Oklahoma liquor laws

[jerrywall]

Passed the senate.

[David]

SB 383 passed, Ayes: 33, Nays: 10

[Dustin]

SB 383 passed, Ayes: 33, Nays: 10

Sweet.

[Dustin]

So if this passes the House and Fallin signs it, we can buy strong beer in grocery stores along with cold beer in liquor stores?

[jerrywall]

I'm curious if it will take more. Will liquor licenses be required to sell this beer? Will able regulate it or will it move all beer out of able control? And if so, will that preclude liquor stores from selling beer? I imagine that this is just getting going...

[bchris02]

Cold beer in liquor stores.

Normal strength beer in grocery stores will be in the event a constitutional amendment is passed to abolish 3.2 beer. Without a law like this, if 3.2 beer was abolished grocery stores would lose beer entirely until a provision like this was made.

[jerrywall]

Ah, that makes sense.

[TheTravellers]

Yay, my senator (Treat) voted for it, glad to see that. I was in a liquor store yesterday afternoon, some dude came in and started talking to the owner about this bill, told him it had been changed for convenience stores, etc., and gave him contact info for the senator in his district if he wanted to contact him with his opinion. So I talked to the owner a bit, told him it was that way in other states already, he actually asked "So kids can walk in those aisles and past the beer and wine?" Um, yeah, what the hell does that matter, it's not like there are open samples of beer and wine being given out, it's all sealed, BFD if kids can actually see beer and wine, man, the way some people think.....

[bradh]

the guys at my liqour store of choice (The Wild Turkey) are talking like this is going to pass no problem, already chatting about plans for the coolers.

[Stickman]

The Naifeh's and Shadid's would most certainly oppose it.

[jerrywall]

The Naifeh's and Shadid's would most certainly oppose it.

Why do you say that, and why would they? Especially the Naifeh's? Because all it will do is increase Central's business.

[tfvc.org]

Yay! Hopefully I will be able to get Fat Tire in Ok instead of having to schlep to tx to get it.

[Stickman]

I mean they will oppose the sale of above 3.2 beer in grocery stores.

[jerrywall]

Yay! Hopefully I will be able to get Fat Tire in Ok instead of having to schlep to tx to get it.

I'd hope so, but I'm not sure. I've never quite bought their refrigeration argument, considering that they sell in Utah.

[jerrywall]

I mean they will oppose the sale of above 3.2 beer in grocery stores.

Only if for some reason grocery stores got to ignore the liquor laws and buy direct from the manufacturers. Otherwise, it would be a cash bonanza for the liquor distributors in Oklahoma.

[Stickman]

I hope it passes. I don't care for buying domestics in Arkansas. Can't stand 3.2 so when I'm out its Johnny Black for me.
Can't afford Single malt.

[Bunty]

So if this passes the House and Fallin signs it, we can buy strong beer in grocery stores along with cold beer in liquor stores?

No, KFOR said it will have to go to the vote for the people, if it further makes it that far. Oh, oh, this could be something they won't let us vote on out of fear we will vote YES!

[Urbanized]

Lots of confusion surrounding this topic. No vote of the people is required to allow refrigeration in liquor stores. If this legislation passes, it becomes law and liquor stores will be able to sell cold beer.

What would require a vote of the people is strong beer and wine in grocery stores and C-stores. That will require a constitutional amendment, which would require a petition to get it onto a ballot, and then a vote by the people.

These are two separate issues.

[jerrywall]

Modernizing Oklahoma's liquor laws likely won't happen this session, lawmaker says - Tulsa World: News

I think they made a mistake tacking on this amendment...

[Urbanized]

Aha. Sounds like there must be pressure from grocery and C-stores to time the two issues together so that they don't lose cold beer market share to liquor stores.

[bchris02]

Modernizing Oklahoma's liquor laws likely won't happen this session, lawmaker says - Tulsa World: News

I think they made a mistake tacking on this amendment...

I agree. I personally think the amendment doomed the chances of this actually passing. Hopefully I am wrong and it goes in to pass the house and signed by Fallin but I am not getting my hopes up. In a state this conservative, change has to happen little by little. Too much, even just a little, can kill the chances of any change at all. Bice should have known that before she proposed the amendment. On the bright side, even though we have to wait a bit longer we may get more than just cold beer in liquor stores.

[TU 'cane]

Aha. Sounds like there must be pressure from grocery and C-stores to time the two issues together so that they don't lose cold beer market share to liquor stores.

I agree. I personally think the amendment doomed the chances of this actually passing. Hopefully I am wrong and it goes in to pass the house and signed by Fallin but I am not getting my hopes up. In a state this conservative, change has to happen little by little. Too much, even just a little, can kill the chances of any change at all. Bice should have known that before she proposed the amendment. On the bright side, even though we have to wait a bit longer we may get more than just cold beer in liquor stores.

I'm a little confused, because there's some language in the bill that suggests it would have to go to a vote by the people. Not sure why that is. Regardless, the Senate passed it with a large majority, and now we're seeing some back treading. I agree with the sentiment above, I think special interests are starting to take hold.

The best thing we can do now is call and/or email Senator Bice, and Senator Bingman and request they reconsider and push this forward for passage this session. Pressure them, people, that's how we can move things forward instead of discussing it on an Internet forum. Let's DO it, instead of just TALK about it. At the end of the day, the worst we'll be able to say is "well, we tried."
You can find their contact information by Googling their bio pages on the Senate website.

[Bunty]

http://mccarvillereport.com/wp-conte...April+2015.pdf

[bchris02]

http://mccarvillereport.com/wp-conte...April+2015.pdf

Encouraging. I think this is nearing the place where it could be put to a vote of the people and have a chance at passing. Question is, how does it get on the ballot other than the extremely difficult petition process?

[Bunty]

Encouraging. I think this is nearing the place where it could be put to a vote of the people and have a chance at passing. Question is, how does it get on the ballot other than the extremely difficult petition process?

I guess the legislature could do that, but I don't know of any impending bills that would do that.