State Sen. Rice Proposing High Point Beer & Wine Sales In Grocery Stores

[Hoss]

Not related to Oklahoma, but an interesting read about Pennsylvania's liquor laws: http://www.philly.com/philly/news/homepage/20100308_Troopers_raid_popular_bars_for_unlicensed_beers__Dozens_of_gallons_seized_after__citizen_complaint_.html

Wow, and I thought Oklahoma alcohol laws were arcane...well, they still are, but that right there takes the cake.  Although being Pennsylvania, it doesn't surprise me one bit.

33.

[Red Arrow]

I've heard of some really stupid alcohol laws from most every state. 

When I lived near Philly, up to the 70s, beer was only available in any bulk from "Beverage" stores which also sold soda/pop.  Liquor and wine were only available in "State Stores" which were/are owned by the state.  You could buy a bottle (or two up to a limit I don't remember) of unopened beer at a bar for consumption off premises (take home).  If you were in a restaurant or bar with an alcoholic drink and wanted to change tables, you had to get a waiter/waitress to move your drinks to the new table.  It's been quite a few years since I even  visited PA so these could be out of date, but I doubt it.

In the 60s, the state (PA) decided to raise the alcohol tax.  Folks in the border areas naturally went to neighboring states to buy booze.  You were in trouble if you got caught with more than a minimal amount of booze without PA tax stamps.  In one operation, the PA State Police were staking out liquor stores in NJ for cars with PA tags.  They would call back on the radio to their buddies on the PA side of the Delaware River (all toll bridges by the way) and the bootleggers would be stopped on the PA side.  The PA troopers got tagged (I believe by the FCC) for operating their radios out of their jurisdiction.  Couldn't have happened to a more deserving bunch.

[Townsend]

We should've been allowed to vote on it.

Also killed in a state Senate committee was a proposal to let voters decide whether to allow the sale of strong beer and wine in grocery stores

http://www.newson6.com/global/story.asp?s=12139088

[swake]

We should've been allowed to vote on it.

http://www.newson6.com/global/story.asp?s=12139088

Mr "Freedom" Randy Brogdon taking away peoples ability to choose.

Shocking.

[rwarn17588]

Mr "Freedom" Randy Brogdon taking away peoples ability to choose.

Shocking.

Christianists strike again. 

[Conan71]

Christianists strike again. 

X2

[dbacks fan]

Looks like this is staring again.....

http://newsok.com/legislators-likely-will-consider-giving-oklahoma-stores-strong-beer-wine/article/3526971#

[Townsend]

Looks like this is staring again.....

http://newsok.com/legislators-likely-will-consider-giving-oklahoma-stores-strong-beer-wine/article/3526971#

Richard believes the state economy will suffer if grocery stores can sell wine and strong beer because most state grocery stores are owned by corporations based out-of-state.

"Then the money leaves the state, and you get a minimum-wage employee who is now your service agent. That's your expert," Richard said.

What a lying sack.  The 4 tier system in Oklahoma is the worst I've ever seen. 

I just got back from Texas and Arizona where their grocery stores have wine and good beer.  It was great to be able to shop like that.

Oklahoma's system is a racket.

[godboko71]

Not only that, sure some liqueur stores have "experts" but most don't know much more then the "minimum-wage employee" at the supermarket does.

[Conan71]

What a lying sack.  The 4 tier system in Oklahoma is the worst I've ever seen. 

I just got back from Texas and Arizona where their grocery stores have wine and good beer.  It was great to be able to shop like that.

Oklahoma's system is a racket.

Richard is a dishonest scrotum.  Two of the larger grocery chains are local: Reasor's and Crest in the OKC metro.  There's quite a few smaller grocers in places like Bartlesville, Enid, Lawton, etc.  I do realize Wal-Mart and Super Target are out of state owners along with Food Pyramid, but his argument is pretty weak.  We've discussed this before, aside from 6 pt. Boulevard and other recognizable brands as well as low-end wine, I don't see this putting a huge dent in liquor store business.  The kinds of beer I like wouldn't do enough volume to justify the shelf space in a grocery store.

It's time to root out the old mob-style system the liquor lobby keeps in place.

[Townsend]

It's time to root out the old mob-style system the liquor lobby keeps in place.

harumph harumph

[Hoss]

Richard is a dishonest scrotum.  Two of the larger grocery chains are local: Reasor's and Crest in the OKC metro.  There's quite a few smaller grocers in places like Bartlesville, Enid, Lawton, etc.  I do realize Wal-Mart and Super Target are out of state owners along with Food Pyramid, but his argument is pretty weak.  We've discussed this before, aside from 6 pt. Boulevard and other recognizable brands as well as low-end wine, I don't see this putting a huge dent in liquor store business.  The kinds of beer I like wouldn't do enough volume to justify the shelf space in a grocery store.

It's time to root out the old mob-style system the liquor lobby keeps in place.

I'd like to see it happen but I would also want the ability for these retailers to refrigerate the beer on site.  That's one of the things that holds up one of my favorites from coming to Oklahoma...Fat Tire.

[dbacks fan]

It's time to root out the old mob-style system the liquor lobby keeps in place.

I was just pointing this out to a friend on FB, the likes of Fred Parkhill, and the liquor distibutors will do their best to see that it doesn't go through. They don't want the competition. (I would love to see it open up and the likes of BevMo and Total Wine and Spirits move into Oklahoma.)

http://www.bevmo.com/

http://www.totalwine.com/

[dbacks fan]

harumph harumph

"Wait a minute I didn't get a harumph outta that guy!"

[Townsend]

I was just pointing this out to a friend on FB, the likes of Fred Parkhill, and the liquor distibutors will do their best to see that it doesn't go through. They don't want the competition. (I would love to see it open up and the likes of BevMo and Total Wine and Spirits move into Oklahoma.)

http://www.bevmo.com/

http://www.totalwine.com/

Jarbo and Central et al need to go as well.  ABLE needs to be overhauled or ended.