Oklahoma liquor laws

[jerrywall]

The other unintended consequences I'd like to see addressed is in the terms of street festivals and the such (like Heard on Hurd, Pride, and the like). 3.2 is legal to be sold on the street and consumed at those events. I'm hoping they will address this when ABLE works out regulations as this gets closer. I'd like to see Oklahoma adopt a festival zone law similar to Texas. This would allow open containers in areas such as Bricktown or such.

[Urbanized]

^^^^^^^
Yes, excellent point. Again, when I was talking unintended consequences I wasn't taking issue with the law or choosing sides. I'm personally mostly in favor of all aspects. I want 3.2 beer to go away. I want to be able to buy wine and strong beer in C-stores and grocery stores. I want cold beer in liquor stores.

I'm just saying I don't think all parties are fully prepared for the switchover and there are a lot of assumptions being made that the places that were selling 3.2 on Tuesday will suddenly be selling strong beer on Wednesday (or whenever...you get the point). That's not the way it's going to work and a number of people are going to wake up one morning on the wrong side of this, including stores, restaurants, bars, consumers and even entire counties, as evidenced above. I'm hopeful that everything becomes more clearly defined soon and that the places that can do so take measures to make sure they can continue to serve the customer.

[jerrywall]

A good example are strip clubs like the Red Dog, which currently operate under only a beer license. I don't know if they'll be required to get a liquor license, which could cause problems, or if a beer license will cover stronger beer. Obviously, many aren't concerned over the fate of such strip clubs, but they are business which will be affected.

[Jersey Boss]

^^^^^^^
Yes, excellent point. Again, when I was talking unintended consequences I wasn't taking issue with the law or choosing sides. I'm personally mostly in favor of all aspects. I want 3.2 beer to go away. I want to be able to buy wine and strong beer in C-stores and grocery stores. I want cold beer in liquor stores.

I'm just saying I don't think all parties are fully prepared for the switchover and there are a lot of assumptions being made that the places that were selling 3.2 on Tuesday will suddenly be selling strong beer on Wednesday (or whenever...you get the point). That's not the way it's going to work and a number of people are going to wake up one morning on the wrong side of this, including stores, restaurants, bars, consumers and even entire counties, as evidenced above. I'm hopeful that everything becomes more clearly defined soon and that the places that can do so take measures to make sure they can continue to serve the customer.

http://www.americancraftbeer.com/say-goodbye-3-2-beer/

[Urbanized]

A good example are strip clubs like the Red Dog, which currently operate under only a beer license. I don't know if they'll be required to get a liquor license, which could cause problems, or if a beer license will cover stronger beer. Obviously, many aren't concerned over the fate of such strip clubs, but they are business which will be affected.

Yes, another good example. Personally, I don't care that much what happens to Red Dog, but that is an example of an unintended consequence of the law change.

[Urbanized]

http://www.americancraftbeer.com/say-goodbye-3-2-beer/

Yep. I've read something since that article that mentions Utah's reaction that I referenced above. The article I read said that Oklahoma consumed some ridiculous percentage of all 3.2 beer made (seems like it was 70%+) despite other states also having it, and that once OK goes off of 3.2 the industry is likely to completely abandon the stuff.

[foodiefan]

I've contacted my Senator to voice my disapproval. Totally self serving as it would impact me significantly more.

+1. I'm surprised I haven't seen more on this. . .the way I read/understand it, this will eliminate the "liquor tax" in restaurants/bars and replace it with an added tax on all retail sales.

[Bill Robertson]

Yep. I've read something since that article that mentions Utah's reaction that I referenced above. The article I read said that Oklahoma consumed some ridiculous percentage of all 3.2 beer made (seems like it was 70%+) despite other states also having it, and that once OK goes off of 3.2 the industry is likely to completely abandon the stuff.

No doubt that producers will stop brewing 3.2 beer. Especially since the difference in 3.2 and “stong” beer of the big two (Miller Coors and Anheuser-Busch) really isn’t that much of a deal.

[barrettd]

No doubt that producers will stop brewing 3.2 beer. Especially since the difference in 3.2 and “stong” beer of the big two (Miller Coors and Anheuser-Busch) really isn’t that much of a deal.

I wonder if Coop will revise their 3.2 recipes to "strong" beer. I like their 3.2 selections.

[stile99]

I wonder if Coop will revise their 3.2 recipes to "strong" beer. I like their 3.2 selections.

They might expand, but I imagine the smaller brewers are going to pick up the slack if (IF, as by no means is it a foregone conclusion) the big boys decide to ignore the market.

[Jersey Boss]

Disagree. As the above article explained why 3.2 will not make economic sense. One of the draws of beer flavored water is price which will vanish if the beer factories quit producing it.

[stile99]

If only I had a nickel for every time someone told a small craft brewer exactly that.

[Bunty]

After Oct. 1, I imagine it will be hard to find a beer in a bar for under 4 or 5 dollars from the tax hike.

[Laramie]

After Oct. 1, I imagine it will be hard to find a beer in a bar for under 4 or 5 dollars from the tax hike.

So true, many of the bars charge on average $3.50 now; patrons will have to adjust their drinking habits. If you drink a 6 pack of can or 6 draws, just imagine the impact this could have on your ability to operate a motor vehicle--buzzed driving.

Oklahoma (ABLE com, liquor-by-the-drink) needs to take a page from some bar/club options they have in Texas. Stay open until 3 or 4 a.m., collect all alcohol, allow patrons to purchase snacks, juices & soft drinks--allow the bars (optional) an addition hour to stay open before putting patrons out on our roads. Those bars found in non-compliance will be in jeopardy of loss liquor or beverage license.

...or stop alcohol sales at 1 a.m., if you keep the 2 a.m. closing hours.

[bchris02]

So true, many of the bars charge on average $3.50 now; patrons will have to adjust their drinking habits. If you drink a 6 pack of can or 6 draws, just imagine the impact this could have on your ability to operate a motor vehicle--buzzed driving.

Oklahoma (ABLE com, liquor-by-the-drink) needs to take a page from some bar/club options they have in Texas. Stay open until 3 or 4 a.m., collect all alcohol, allow patrons to purchase snacks, juices & soft drinks--allow the bars (optional) an addition hour to stay open before putting patrons out on our roads. Those bars found in non-compliance will be in jeopardy of loss liquor or beverage license.

...or stop alcohol sales at 1 a.m., if you keep the 2 a.m. closing hours.

Oklahoma is a lot stricter about this compared to other states I have lived, requiring ABC3 establishments to be completely emptied out by 2am. North Carolina requires bars to stop serving alcohol at 2am but they can stay open until 3 I believe. Arkansas has a similar policy except they also have a special license for nightclubs that allows them to stay open until 5am.

[Bunty]

So true, many of the bars charge on average $3.50 now; patrons will have to adjust their drinking habits. If you drink a 6 pack of can or 6 draws, just imagine the impact this could have on your ability to operate a motor vehicle--buzzed driving.

In some Stillwater bars, like Finnegan's, downtown, you can get beer for as little as $2.

I very seldom drink as many as 6 straight when at a bar, and if I did I would have stopped by midnight to allow time to get sobered up by the time bar closes at 2.

I agree Oklahoma bars should simply stop serving alcohol at 2 pm and stay open an hour or two longer.

[Bill Robertson]

I wonder if Coop will revise their 3.2 recipes to "strong" beer. I like their 3.2 selections.

Simply changing the measurement from ABV to ABW will make it 4.0 or so. Then it’s up to them if they want to go stronger. From what I’ve been able to find by research a lot of beers are brewed stronger and actually “watered down” in the final steps. If so making a low point beer stronger would be simple.

[mugofbeer]

Disagree. As the above article explained why 3.2 will not make economic sense. One of the draws of beer flavored water is price which will vanish if the beer factories quit producing it.

You actually think Coors is going to stop producing Coors and C Lite? There are a lot of people who actually like it.

[jonny d]

You actually think Coors is going to stop producing Coors and C Lite? There are a lot of people who actually like it.

But don't they only produce the 3.2 beer for the states that need it? Once OK offers high point beer, it won't be needed here.

[Bill Robertson]

You actually think Coors is going to stop producing Coors and C Lite? There are a lot of people who actually like it.

They’ll stop brewing 3.2 ABV. Oklahoma will get the 5.0 ABW that most everybody gets now.

[sooner333]

I know street festivals were mentioned above, but any idea if this will change Campus Corner on game days which allows beer sales on the street? I know there may be fewer options as I doubt the bridal boutique will spring for a full blown liquor license, but I’m worried the practice will end entirely. I doubt NPD will enforce open container laws on game days, but it was nice to have a place to buy a beer or two before the game.

[Hondo1]

It will be interesting to see how the law affects prices, particularly on wine. With more retail vendors, one would think competition would drive prices down, however, I’m hearing there will actually be fewer distributors thus raising prices at the wholesale level. I don’t know how much higher Oklahoma’s alcohol prices are on a percentage basis, but for comparison, I recently purchased a bottle of a well-known brand of wine while on a trip to Plano, Texas, for $6.99. The exact same brand and variety at Byron’s cost about $12.31.

[bchris02]

But don't they only produce the 3.2 beer for the states that need it? Once OK offers high point beer, it won't be needed here.

This is true. Most 3.2 beer is consumed in Oklahoma because this is the only state where Big Beer doesn't even offer the full-strength version of their products. In all other 3.2 beer states you can go to a liquor store and get the full-strength version which significantly cuts down demand for 3.2 beer in those states. Since most 3.2 beer is consumed in Oklahoma and Oklahoma won't be needing 3.2 beer anymore, it will be surprising if they even still make it. Utah is the only other state that even has a sizable 3.2 market. Minnesota and Kansas have 3.2 beer in their grocery stores, but the percentage of total beers sales that are 3.2 is in the single digits in those states.

[OU Adonis]

Some questions I have -

1) Will you need a liquor license to serve drinks now as a server? (I don't think you needed to have a liquor license to sell 3.2 beer but I could be wrong)

2) Strip clubs could not sell beer in excess of 3.2 if they had 18 year old dancers - Is this affected?

3) When will we get rid of proximity laws in regards to zoning of bars /ect?

[BoulderSooner]

This is true. Most 3.2 beer is consumed in Oklahoma because this is the only state where Big Beer doesn't even offer the full-strength version of their products. In all other 3.2 beer states you can go to a liquor store and get the full-strength version which significantly cuts down demand for 3.2 beer in those states. Since most 3.2 beer is consumed in Oklahoma and Oklahoma won't be needing 3.2 beer anymore, it will be surprising if they even still make it. Utah is the only other state that even has a sizable 3.2 market. Minnesota and Kansas have 3.2 beer in their grocery stores, but the percentage of total beers sales that are 3.2 is in the single digits in those states.

Budweiser has sold their full strength products in Oklahoma for some time now