ABLE Commission Preparing For New Liquor Laws To Take Effect In October

The Oklahoma Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement Commission is hoping to be more helpful as it processes thousands of applications with changing liquor laws.

Come October 1, grocery, convenience stores and major retailers will be able to sell full strength beer and wine.

This year, the ABLE Commission is expected to receive 3,000 applications from businesses and 50,000 employee license applications before October 1.

It’s new territory for the state’s alcohol regulatory agency.

“Our agents have 20 plus years of experience. It doesn’t do any good because this is all new,” said the ABLE Commission’s Steven Barker.

Right now, ABLE is slated to get $500,000 more in funding in July. It will allow for five new employees and new a computer system to replace the one ABLE has had since the 1980’s.

“We are getting it done,” said Barker, who encourages people to get their applications in now and not wait until September.