Oklahoma Liquor Laws Facing Possible Modification

 Oklahoma lawmakers are in debate on whether or not they should change the liquor laws to allow consumers to purchase high point beer and wine in grocery stores. 

If the proposed liquor law passed, there would be a great impact on small businesses across Oklahoma. 

"It would be disastrous for all local retailers," Matthew Sterr, Owner of Spirit Shop said. 

Spirit Shop is a family owned and operated business which has been providing jobs for Norman, Okla. residents for 35 years. Moreover, Oklahoma liquor stores provide about 800 full-time jobs

"I would assume if Wal-Mart would start to sell wine and beer, over half of those businesses you would see would go bankrupt," Sterr said.  

On the other hand, Gene Clifton, owner and operator of Canadian River Winery in Slaughterville, Okla., would profit from the proposed changes. 

Clifton's wine is sold in 110 liquor stores across Oklahoma, including Spirit Shop.

"We of course are not opposed to wine in grocery stores, that's one of the things we want because it would be new market," Clifton said.  

According to the Oklahoma Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement (ABLE) Commission, there are 61 winemakers in Oklahoma. The passage of the proposed liquor laws would allow these wineries to reach a wider consumer base. 

"A lot of people won't go into a liquor store, because it's the bible belt, but they shop in grocery stores, and they pick up wine in grocery stores," Clifton said.

With wine sold in grocery stores, a new convenience factor would be added to everyday grocery consumers. 

"It's just like a sack of flour, people just pick it up because it's there. They don't have to go to a liquor store," Clifton said.

According to the ABLE Commission, there are 645 liquor stores in Oklahoma. 

Under current Oklahoma law, retailers may not sell beer and wine above 3.2 percent alcohol concentration in grocery stores. Furthermore, liquor stores in Oklahoma are only allowed to sell liquor, wine, and warm beer. 

With wine and strong beer in grocery stores, minors have more accessibility to these products through juvenile employees and customers. 

"It would basically be a complete deregulation. You might as well throw out the 21 rule for retail because it would become extremely easy for minors to get ahold of strong alcohol," Sterr said.

Oklahoma lawmakers have created a task force to further research the effects of the proposed liquor law changes. 

"I think its a complete politicization of the issue, they knew they couldn't get the bill through, they knew they didn't have the votes. You really don't need a task force to study that," Sterr said.  

The current Oklahoma liquor laws will stay in effect until the task force completes the necessary research next year. 

Osama bin Laden's Death Received Different Reactions From Around the Globe.

Large celebrations were witnessed around the United States once Pres. Barack Obama announced the death of Osama bin Laden; however, there were different reactions around the globe. 

Pres. Barack Obama announces
the death of Osama Bin Laden.
PHOTO: Courtesy youtube.com

"There isn't a lot of talk here...all I hear is that everyone is wondering why there arn't pictures," Feras Villanueva, external relations manager at Carnegie Melon University at Qatar, said.

The U.S. had been looking for bin Laden extensively since the September 11th attacks on the New York City World Trade Centers and the Pentagon. However, bin Laden had been the mastermind behind terrorist attacks against the U.S. since the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center. 

bin Laden was the founder of the terrorist organization al-Qaeda, which has launched terrorist attacks on several countries since the 1980s. 

It was believed that bin Laden was hiding in the mountains around Afghanistan for several years; nevertheless, it was only within the last month that Pres. Obama learned of bin Laden's luxurious living within Abbottabad, Pakistan. 

Pres. Obama announced bin Laden's death May 1 after a successful intricate operation completed by U.S. Navy Seals. 

"The death of bin Laden marks the most significant achievement to date against al-Qaeda," Pres. Obama said in his address to the public on May 1. 

Celebrations occurred
 outside the White House.
PHOTO: Courtesy Al Jazeera Newspaper, Qatar

On the streets in New York City, at the front gates of the White House, and in many other cities around the world; celebrations could be found that resembled the look of New Years Eve.  However, these celebrations were not found around the globe.  

"The overall feeling here is of thankfulness...there is still a lot of doubt," Villanueva said. 

While the majority of reactions were in a positive manner, the intense celebrations were not witnessed. 

"The killing of bin Laden is very important news... The Taliban must learn a lesson from this. The Taliban should refrain from fighting," Hamid Karzai, Afghanistan president, said according to Al Jazeera newspaper in Qatar. 

Pres. Obama has announced that his administration will not release photos of bin Laden as he does not want them used as propaganda or to strike up additional violence.

 "We are absolute certain this was him, we've done DNA testing...There is no doubt we killed Osama bin Laden," Pres. Obama said.