Oklahoma group seeks sale of wine in grocery stores

“Will the customer see a price difference or a variety difference? No, because the distribution system stays intact,” said Richard, owner of Cache Road Liquor and Wine in Lawton. “They will buy at the same price that I do.”

Mike Thornbrugh, spokesman for Tulsa-based QuikTrip, said QuikTrip, which sells wine and strong beer in nine of the 11 states where it operates, supported the group's earlier proposal.

“Now these guys have come out with this proposal that cuts QuikTrip out completely, or any other convenience store,” he said. “We're offended because we met with these guys in good faith and thought that they had integrity, and we were wrong.

“All they've done is they have put together this for a very select few big-box retailers,” he said. “They're going to try to hoodwink the public.”

About the question

If voters approve the state question, counties with more than 50,000 residents would have the option to let voters decide whether to allow grocery stores in those counties to sell wine. Those counties are Oklahoma, Tulsa, Canadian, Cleveland, Comanche, Creek, Garfield, Grady, Le Flore, Muskogee, Payne, Pottawatomie, Rogers, Wagoner and Washington.

If voters approve, wine would be sold unrefrigerated for off-premises consumption only, according to the petition.

Sales of wine would be prohibited to people under 21 years old, although people under 21 would be allowed in the grocery stores to buy other items. People under 21 aren't allowed in liquor stores.

Grocery stores would require at least 25,000 square feet of floor space in order to be issued a wine license.

Corporations would be eligible for grocery store wine licenses but would be limited to having six locations statewide. They could receive licenses for no more than two locations in the first two years and seek licenses for up to two more locations in each of the next two-year periods, for a total of six in six years.

If voters approve the statewide initiative petition, Howe said the earliest a county election on the issue could be held would be about 18 months after November.

Those wanting grocery stores to sell wine in the 15 eligible counties would have to conduct a petition drive to get the matter on the ballot in each county. The election would be held within 180 days after petitioners gather at least 8 percent of the total number of votes cast in the county during the last gubernatorial election.