OKLAHOMA CITY — Liquor store operators are questioning the fairness of efforts to modernize the state’s alcohol laws.
Voters on Nov. 8 will cast ballots on State Question 792, which would allow grocery and convenience stores to sell strong, cold beer and wine. Senate Bill 383 sets up the statutory framework and makes other changes.
The state question would allow liquor stores to have up to 20 percent of their sales consist of non-alcoholic items, such as mixers, something currently prohibited.
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“Those are such inconsequential things,” said Rod Davidson, who with his wife, Julie Davidson, owns Grapes & Grains, 9146 S. Yale Ave., and Vintage Liquors & Wines, 8929 S. Memorial Drive, in Tulsa. “They don’t add up to much.”
J.P. Richard, owner of Cache Road Liquor & Wine in Lawton, called the 20 percent limit unfair.
He said the law does not limit sales at convenience and grocery stores, which can have 100 percent of their sales from alcoholic beverages.
Bob Stewart is a partner at Old Village Wine & Spirits, 1327 E. 41st St., in Tulsa. He said he would prefer not to sell non-alcoholic items.
“I mean, we are not in that business, but if they wanted to make it fair, they would have limited convenience and grocery stores to 20 percent sales of strong beer and wine, but they didn’t,” Stewart said.
Richard said lawmakers put the 20 percent restriction in the question because they do not want liquor stores to start selling gasoline and to protect the turf of convenience stores.
Sen. Stephanie Bice, R-Edmond, led efforts to modernize the state’s liquor laws. She said Oklahomans do not support letting liquor stores sell gasoline.
Under the statutory change, those who are 18 years old will be able to sell wine and strong, cold beer in grocery and convenience stores, while the age requirement for liquor stores will still be 21 years old for sales and entry.
Critics say it makes alcohol more readily accessible to minors.
Bice said there are provisions in the new statute that require every employee to be licensed, which is currently not the case, adding, they must go through training to prevent under-age access.
“These are all very responsible reforms to put in place to make sure we are not increasing minor access,” Bice said.
Liquor store operators also say they are limited to owning two sites, while chains of grocery and convenience stores, such as Wal-Mart and QuikTrip, are not limited and can sell at all locations.
Twyla Kok, a partner in Tulsa Hills Wine Cellar, 7422 S. Olympia Ave. in Tulsa, said she would have preferred that the licensing restriction be more equitable for liquor stores.
“That was a request from liquor stores,” Bice said, adding that lawmakers offered to consider changes. “They did not want to have to compete with corporate-owned liquor stores.”
Also of issue to critics are operating hours and days for liquor stores.
Liquor store owners said while the statutory change allows them to be open as late as midnight instead of 9 p.m., convenience stores and grocery stores still can remain open longer and operate seven days a week.
Bice called it a compromise, adding that some liquor store owners opposed increasing their hours.
Bice said liquor stores would remain the only outlets that can sell spirits.
“I think the idea that they are being unfairly treated is inaccurate,” Bice said.
Critics of the state question aren’t just from the liquor store industry.
Pastor Nick Garland, senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Broken Arrow, was asked about his views.
“As a pastor, I do not see how expanding alcohol accessibility and alcohol sales will benefit the families or individuals of this state,” he said.
The Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma agrees with Garland’s perspective, said Brian Hobbs, a spokesman.
The organization plans to address it and other state questions in the Baptist Messenger in the days ahead, Hobbs said.
