Oklahoma ABLE Commission extending alcohol deliveries through May 15

TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) — The Oklahoma Oklahoma Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement (ABLE) Commission has extended its temporary emergency authorizations allowing alcohol deliveries through May 15, 2020.

Due to the coronavirus closures, many brewers, wineries, restaurants and liquor stores have had to adapt to a "new normal," forcing some to close and find new ways to reach consumers.

“The coronavirus pandemic has upended daily life and created a new reality, at least in the short term,” said Lisette Barnes, president of the Oklahoma Beer Alliance. “Many Oklahoma consumers are looking for ways to keep some normalcy to their lives, and businesses are looking for ways to maintain sales. The mission of the Oklahoma Beer Alliance is to enable Oklahomans to choose the highest quality products without compromise, as well as promote responsible consumption, so we applaud the quick efforts of leadership in our state to adapt to this quickly changing situation.”

With guidance from the ABLE Commission, the Oklahoma Beer Alliance has extended the following:

• Liquor stores may deliver alcoholic beverages, including beer, wine and spirits, to consumers age 21 and over.
• Small brewers and small-farm wineries may deliver alcoholic beverages they produced in sealed original containers to consumers age 21 and over.
• Restaurants, bars and clubs with alcoholic beverage licenses may deliver original sealed packages of only beer, including growlers, and wine to consumers age 21 and over.
• On-premise beer, wine, mixed beverage and caterer/mixed beverage licensees that are primarily Type-2 restaurants, where persons under 21 are allowed to enter, may sell closed original packages of beer, including growlers, and wine in conjunction with curbside pick-up or drive through food sales.
• Grocery and convenience stores holding retail licenses may deliver closed containers of beer or wine to consumers age 21 and over.
• Licensed beer distributors, small brewers or brewpubs may accept the return of original unopened packages of beer products by licensees that will expire or fall outside the manufacturer’s recommended use date during the period of mandated COVID-19-related closure.