Oklahoma Wine, Strong Beer Bill Moves Forward

The Senate approved the measure, which would allow grocery and convenience stores to sell more alcohol.

March 04, 2016

OKLAHOMA CITY — A bill that would allow residents to vote on the sale of wine and cold, strong beer at supermarkets and convenience stores has passed the Oklahoma Senate, the Times Record reports. The House now will consider Senate Joint Resolution 68 (SJR 68).

“SJR 68 finally gives voters the ability to vote for what they have been clamoring for years,” said Sen. Clark Jolley, who authored the proposal. Sen. Stephanie Bice, whose companion bill would make statutory changes to the state’s liquor laws, applauded the move. “Compromise does not come easy … the reality is this: Oklahomans want to see a change,” she said.

Others said the passage spelled doom for the state’s package stores. “The Senate just voted in favor of eliminating hundreds of jobs in the state in favor of Walmart selling wine,” Bryan Kerr, president of the Oklahoma Retail Liquor Association, said.

The bill would also forbid common ownership of alcohol retail, wholesale and manufacturing in the state. In addition, liquor stores would be allowed to stock “any item that may be purchased at a grocery or convenience store,” provided sales of such products didn’t constitute 20% of the location’s total sales. 

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