Panel moves bill on beer, wine sales closer to law

Oklahomans moved one step closer to being able to buy wine and cold, fullstrength beer in supermarkets and convenience stores under a Senate-passed resolution that cleared a state House committee Wednesday.

The measure, which now goes to the full House, would ask voters in November to approve a constitutional amendment to change the current law, which permits sales of such items only in liquor stores.

Senate Joint Resolution 68, approved 6-3, also specifies that liquor stores for the first time could refrigerate beer and sell nonalcohol items.

Discussion in committee centered on whether it was fair to wholesalers and the lack of specification on the allowable age for those who would sell the beer and wine.

Backers of the bill said it was fair and that there will be follow-up legislation to specify that those selling these products would need to be at least 18 years old.

Rep. Glen Mulready, R-Tulsa, who presented the measure in the House Rules Committee, said 42 other states already allow the sale of strong beer and wine in grocery stores.

Eric James, of Anheuser-Busch Sales of Oklahoma, said the company supports modernization of Oklahoma alcohol laws. Under the present system, the only beer allowed to be sold at supermarkets and convenience stores is of the lowalcohol-content variety. Liquor stores are closed Sundays and certain holidays.

“Support of SJR 68 is support for

consumer choice and economic growth in Oklahoma,” James said. “Oklahomans want cold, strong beer available seven days a week at grocery and convenience stores, and this vote is one step closer to making that a reality.”

Brett Robinson, president of the Beer Distributors of Oklahoma, called the measure “a realistic, broad-based alcohol modernization initiative” that would be equitable, safe and responsible.

Senate Joint Resolution 68 passed the Senate, 28-16, amid opposition from liquor retailers.

Bryan Kerr, from the Retail Liquor Association of Oklahoma, said the proposal would allow out-ofstate alcohol distributors to buy controlling interest in Oklahoma wholesalers and then to supply only these select wholesalers. This would concentrate business power in a way that would drive out competing wholesalers, drive up prices and lower selection, he said.

Kerr also said the measure would reduce by half the number of locally owned liquor stores, with the business going largely to out-of-state retail giants.