Shifting alcohol laws leave some patrons with questions
Lisette Barnes is the president of the Oklahoma Beer Alliance, which represents Oklahoma beer distributors from across the state. Over the past few months, legislators and the Oklahoma Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement (ABLE) Commission have continued to adjust Oklahoma's alcohol laws to alleviate and address business and consumer concerns. These shifting laws and rules have left some Oklahomans questioning what they can and can't do. Why can't customers buy more than two beers at a time at a bar or restaurant anymore?
The rules for selling fullstrength beer, wine and mixed drinks always limited the amount a customer could buy to two drinks per person at the table. Oklahomans were used to 3.2 beer sales rules, which were much more lenient, and allowed customers to buy buckets of beer at a time. Now that full-strength alcohol sales are available at more bars and restaurants, customers are experiencing these limits more often.
Are to-go beer and wine sales coming back to college football game days?
Yes, bars and restaurants within 2,000 feet of the stadium can sell to-go beer and wine to consumers on game day from 8 a.m. to midnight, and consumers can walk around with their beverage.
Can Oklahomans 21 and older walk around their neighborhood or a public area with an alcoholic beverage?
This is one of the biggest changes we have seen because now Oklahomans can walk around in public areas, like their neighborhood, with an open, alcoholic beverage as long as they either brought it from home or purchased it from an off-premise retailer, like a grocery or convenience store.
Oklahoma has a lot of outdoor festivals and sporting events; can attendees walk around these events with an alcoholic beverage?
Attendees can walk around events with a beer or a glass of wine, as long as the event doesn't restrict this within its boundaries, has approval from the city or municipality, notified the Oklahoma ABLE Commission and the retailers have the correct special events license, if needed.
When can Oklahomans shop in a liquor store with their minor child?
Consumers can shop in a liquor store with their minor child starting on Nov. 1.
Can businesses offer complimentary drinks?
Yes, businesses, whether it is a bar, restaurant or nail salon, can offer free drinks if they have a complimentary beverage license. This is a new license that businesses can apply for from the Oklahoma ABLE Commission.
Can golfers buy beer at the clubhouse and on the golf course?
Yes, this was remedied this past legislative session, so golfers can again purchase unopened beer or wine at the clubhouse or on the golf course.