Oklahoma liquor laws

[BoulderSooner]

Traveller,
Why do you want to eliminate 3.2 beer? I happen to like it. I enjoy a couple of pints of strong beer at Louie's and a couple of other places, but at home all I drink is 3.2. It's my water, tea, and coffee. I don't understand why we can't have both.
C. T.

As long and you are drinking bud light/coors light/Miller light. You won’t notice much difference. 3.2 coors light etc is 4 point by volume. Those will now be 4.2 by volume So not much different

[BoulderSooner]

Traveller,
Why do you want to eliminate 3.2 beer? I happen to like it. I enjoy a couple of pints of strong beer at Louie's and a couple of other places, but at home all I drink is 3.2. It's my water, tea, and coffee. I don't understand why we can't have both.
C. T.

As long and you are drinking bud light/coors light/Miller light. You won’t notice much difference. 3.2 coors light etc is 4 point by volume. Those will now be 4.2 by volume So not much different

[bchris02]

After Oklahoma eliminates 3.2 beer this fall, that will leave only Utah that still has it. I can't imagine that big beer will keep it around just for one state.

Traveller,
Why do you want to eliminate 3.2 beer? I happen to like it. I enjoy a couple of pints of strong beer at Louie's and a couple of other places, but at home all I drink is 3.2. It's my water, tea, and coffee. I don't understand why we can't have both.
C. T.

While there isn't much of a difference if you are drinking light beer from bud or coors, there's a pretty big difference if you are drinking the 3.2 version of full-flavored brews, They taste watery compared to their full-strength version and while drinking one or two isn't that bad, if I try to get drunk off 3.2 beer I usually end up with just a headache.

[ctchandler]

As long and you are drinking bud light/coors light/Miller light. You won’t notice much difference. 3.2 coors light etc is 4 point by volume. Those will now be 4.2 by volume So not much different

BoulderSooner,
Actually, a friend goes to Texas often to see his son and grandkids and he brings back the stronger Bud often and it really isn't what I want since I drink a lot of beer. Really more alcohol than I like.
C. T.

[ctchandler]

After Oklahoma eliminates 3.2 beer this fall, that will leave only Utah that still has it. I can't imagine that big beer will keep it around just for one state.

Bchris02,
Actually, Kansas and Minnesota still has 3.2 beer. My problem is, I'm not drinking beer to get drunk, beer is my drink of choice. The only liquid I consume other than beer is water, no soft drinks, no coffee or tea, just water and beer and I drink quite a lot of beer.
C. T.

[ctchandler]

After Oklahoma eliminates 3.2 beer this fall, that will leave only Utah that still has it. I can't imagine that big beer will keep it around just for one state.

Bchris02,
Duplicate post. The site seems to have a little problem. I noticed that BoulderSooner had a duplicate post as well.

[jerrywall]

Has anyone seen if they've addressed situations where 3.2 beer was allowed, but not stronger beer? For examples, street festivals such as Pride, Heard on Hurd, and H&8th. Also, bars that only have a beer permit, not a liquor license? Are they just basically DOA if they can't get a liquor license?

[BoulderSooner]

BoulderSooner,
Actually, a friend goes to Texas often to see his son and grandkids and he brings back the stronger Bud often and it really isn't what I want since I drink a lot of beer. Really more alcohol than I like.
C. T.

If he is brining back bud light coors light or miller light. He is pretty much wasting his time 4.2 vs 4.0. A 5% difference in alcohol content. That I doubt anyone could detect in a blind taste test.

As was said earlier. With bud heavy coors original It is a 20% alcohol difference 4.0 vs 5.0 (not 6 point despite what you hear)

[Bunty]

One appeal of 3.2% beer is that it can be priced lower due to lower tax, assuming it won't be upped after Oct. 1.

[TheTravellers]

Bchris02,
Actually, Kansas and Minnesota still has 3.2 beer. My problem is, I'm not drinking beer to get drunk, beer is my drink of choice. The only liquid I consume other than beer is water, no soft drinks, no coffee or tea, just water and beer and I drink quite a lot of beer.
C. T.

The reason I am glad 3.2 is going away is it just seems to be a bastardized, worse-tasting version of real beer, I never drank it unless I had to. Don't know what to tell you about drinking quite a lot of beer, but I've had to stop drinking as much due to all the carbs, so I drink less of higher alcohol content beer, which works for me, but I drink beer to get a little buzz (not really *drunk* 'cos I'm too old to do that anymore ), not as one of my main 2 liquids. Coffee, sugar-free soft drinks, iced tea (regular (because I refuse to say "unsweet"), not the sweet tea crap everybody seems to love around here), hint flavored water, and regular water are my main other drinks.

[ctchandler]

If he is brining back bud light coors light or miller light. He is pretty much wasting his time 4.2 vs 4.0. A 5% difference in alcohol content. That I doubt anyone could detect in a blind taste test.

As was said earlier. With bud heavy coors original It is a 20% alcohol difference 4.0 vs 5.0 (not 6 point despite what you hear)

BoulderSooner,
First, I don't drink anything light, second, I'm well aware of the alcohol in what we always call 6 point beer. And last, I will meet with you and give you odds on a bet that I can tell you whether it's Bud Walmart, or Bud Texas.

[ctchandler]

The reason I am glad 3.2 is going away is it just seems to be a bastardized, worse-tasting version of real beer, I never drank it unless I had to. Don't know what to tell you about drinking quite a lot of beer, but I've had to stop drinking as much due to all the carbs, so I drink less of higher alcohol content beer, which works for me, but I drink beer to get a little buzz (not really *drunk* 'cos I'm too old to do that anymore ), not as one of my main 2 liquids. Coffee, sugar-free soft drinks, iced tea (regular (because I refuse to say "unsweet"), not the sweet tea crap everybody seems to love around here), hint flavored water, and regular water are my main other drinks.

Traveller,
Taste is in the tongue of the beholder. I know, a sad alteration of a great quote but I enjoy my 3.2 beer. I also enjoy good, preferably local craft beer. Roughtail Hoptometrist and Coop F-5 are my favorites. Both high alcohol, but when I stop in at Louie's I have two large drafts and I'm done. I'm not concerned about carbs, hell, I'm 74 years old and I'm a widower so I have nobody to impress. By the way, I have asked my son to bring my kegerator to me and I'm going to start buying Coop F-5 at the liquor store just down the street from me. I'm physically disabled (COPD) and picking up beer in the grocery store is becoming more difficult. I can drive my scooter to the liquor store and put a pony keg on it and take it home. So, I guess my whining about losing 3.2 beer was a waste of time. But I have enjoyed the conversations.
C. T.

[OKCRT]

I stopped drinking the watered down version years ago. I don't drink much but when I do I like full flavor. But there are many folks that have acquired a taste for the watered down version that's been sold in Ok stores for years and it doesn't seem right to abandon those folks.

[OKCRT]

Traveller,
Taste is in the tongue of the beholder. I know, a sad alteration of a great quote but I enjoy my 3.2 beer. I also enjoy good, preferably local craft beer. Roughtail Hoptometrist and Coop F-5 are my favorites. Both high alcohol, but when I stop in at Louie's I have two large drafts and I'm done. I'm not concerned about carbs, hell, I'm 74 years old and I'm a widower so I have nobody to impress. By the way, I have asked my son to bring my kegerator to me and I'm going to start buying Coop F-5 at the liquor store just down the street from me. I'm physically disabled (COPD) and picking up beer in the grocery store is becoming more difficult. I can drive my scooter to the liquor store and put a pony keg on it and take it home. So, I guess my whining about losing 3.2 beer was a waste of time. But I have enjoyed the conversations.
C. T.

Beer scooters! Gotta love it.

[bchris02]

I stopped drinking the watered down version years ago. I don't drink much but when I do I like full flavor. But there are many folks that have acquired a taste for the watered down version that's been sold in Ok stores for years and it doesn't seem right to abandon those folks.

With only one state remaining with 3.2 beer after the new Oklahoma law goes into effect, I doubt that big beer will continue to even manufacture it. Yes, I know that Kansas and Minnesota are technically 3.2 states but only a very small amount of the beer they consume is 3.2. Most 3.2 beer is consumed in Oklahoma and Utah.

[barrettd]

BoulderSooner,
First, I don't drink anything light, second, I'm well aware of the alcohol in what we always call 6 point beer. And last, I will meet with you and give you odds on a bet that I can tell you whether it's Bud Walmart, or Bud Texas.

I tend to agree with you on the taste of the 2 beers. I've done blind tests with Miller Lite from here and from TX and the TX stuff has a fuller taste. That being said, I have no problem filling my beer fridge with 3.2 Miller Lite. I'll still be happier when I can get cold strong beer at the liquor and grocery stores.

[ctchandler]

I tend to agree with you on the taste of the 2 beers. I've done blind tests with Miller Lite from here and from TX and the TX stuff has a fuller taste. That being said, I have no problem filling my beer fridge with 3.2 Miller Lite. I'll still be happier when I can get cold strong beer at the liquor and grocery stores.

Barrettd,
I can't disagree at all, I want the choice, but personally, I would prefer the 3.2 for my home beer. As for the rest of Oklahoma I'm glad that the law was passed and I'm ready for October. Cold beer at liquor stores and strong beer and wine in grocery stores? It's about time.
C. T.

[bchris02]

I wonder if COOP will continue to sell their 3.2 brews like Briefcase Brown and Negative Split?

@ctchandler, if you drink light beer such as Miller Lite or Bud Light, the full-strength versions are like 4.1 or 4.2%, which is barely stronger than 3.2 (4.0 ABV).

[barrettd]

Barrettd,
I can't disagree at all, I want the choice, but personally, I would prefer the 3.2 for my home beer. As for the rest of Oklahoma I'm glad that the law was passed and I'm ready for October. Cold beer at liquor stores and strong beer and wine in grocery stores? It's about time.
C. T.

Hopefully, you'll find you enjoy the regular 4.0 beer after a while. I don't find I get drunker any quicker from the TX Miller Lite, it just tastes a little different (better, in my opinion).

[barrettd]

I wonder if COOP will continue to sell their 3.2 brews like Briefcase Brown and Negative Split?.

I've wondered that, too. I just sent them an email asking about it, and will update if I hear back.

[d-usa]

I really like the Negative Split. And it’s a nice low-alcohol beer during an active beer, similar to how I would drink a Radler in Germany.

I think there is still a market for 3.2 (or lower) beers brewed specifically as a beer that just happens to have that alcohol level, rather than beers that were “designed” for a higher level and then changed to allow 3.2 sales.

[Bill Robertson]

If there’s a enough of a market for 3.2 beer, which will then be called 4.0 beer I would think the brewers will make it.

[bille]

Just wanted to point a couple things out, OK isn't doing away with low point beer, just the requirement of who can (and can't) sell "strong beer" or just "beer" come 1 October. Low point will still exist albeit mostly in craft styles that existed before these pre-prohibition laws did.

Whoever stated that the macro breweries brew one beer for all markets and dilutes them down to the needed ABV at packaging is correct. This is a well known practice that isn't just for producing different strengths of alcohol, it allows them to yield more product and it be more consistent.

Currently there are 5 states with some kind of low point law the macro breweries are producing for, Colorado is one of them. Like stated though, since over 50% of the low point market is here chances are it'll go away for everybody else once it leaves OK.

At this point my biggest concern is like Jerry mentioned and all the situations with only low point being allowed at parks, public locations, etc. If that's not addressed we're going to have a problem. Can you imagine going to the lake or river and not being able to drink legally?

[Urbanized]

...Whoever stated that the macro breweries brew one beer for all markets and dilutes them down to the needed ABV at packaging is correct. This is a well known practice that isn't just for producing different strengths of alcohol, it allows them to yield more product and it be more consistent...

That was me. Thanks for confirming. I know a few people in the craft industry, but most of the info I had on that was gathered online.

...At this point my biggest concern is like Jerry mentioned and all the situations with only low point being allowed at parks, public locations, etc. If that's not addressed we're going to have a problem. Can you imagine going to the lake or river and not being able to drink legally?

Or going to events like Live on the Plaza, H&8th, etc., and having to stay inside a fenced in area to consume instead of walk around the event area? Or not be able go to events where beer is given away because brewery sponsors donated? Currently these things can be done with 3.2 product but not strong beer. I know for a fact that COOP's foray into 3.2 product - while proving beneficial in letting them get beers into supermarkets and c-stores - was driven early on by wanting to be able to give away beers to non-profits for events and to be able to sell on the street at festivals without having to fence people into a tiny corral to consume.

These are the unintended consequences of this law change which I don't think have been fully addressed yet. Don't get me wrong; I fully support the change, I am just concerned that some of the ripple effects haven't yet been considered/fixed.

[d-usa]

If it is an issue, I can see our local breweries in a pretty good position to continue to do what they are doing.