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.
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