20th Century

When Oklahoma became a state in 1907, Oklahoma adopted prohibition to be in the state’s constitution

1919

Oklahoma was the 18th state to ratify the 18th Amendment to the federal Constitution which prohibited “intoxicating liquors”

1933

On a national level, the 21st Amendment was ratified which ended Prohibition and repealed the 18th Amendment

1947

Oklahoma began defining low-point beer and intoxicating liquors

1959

The legislature voted on House Bill 825, which repealed prohibition and created the Alcohol Control Board, now known as the Alcohol Beverage Laws Enforcement Commission. 

1985

Oklahoma allowed liquor-by-the-drink sales with the signing of House Bill 1118 allowing counties to vote.

21st Century

2003

Oklahoma passed a law which required purchase of Kegs to be registered.

2006

Social Host law passed, making it a crime to provide a place for a minor to consume alcohol. Strengthened in 2011 (Cody’s Law) allowed for charges other than if an injury or death occurred as a result of providing place for consumption of alcohol by a minor.

2007

The first Social Host city ordinance passed in Edmond, OK.

2016

Modernization of Alcohol was passed through State Question 792.  It eliminated the distinction between 3.2 beer (low-point) and “strong” beer and allowed sale of wine and beer in grocery stores, increased retail liquor store hours, and required approved training for new licensees.

2020

Oklahoma passed policy to allow home delivery and curbside delivery of alcohol and increased alcohol content for beer in grocery stores and convenience stores from 7.99% to 14%

2021

Oklahoma passed laws to allow:

Cocktails to Go - Hard , rigid container.  Must have a tamper evident lid, rigid container, label with licensee information, type of alcohol, volume, and ingredients.  Must be for curbside/delivery only, and delivered in the trunk of a car

Self-Pour - Allow Mixed Beverage Licensees to have machines that dispense beer and/or wine.  Employee must be presented an ID or DL and must use an RFID device to dispense up to 10 oz of wine or 32 oz of beer.  Must have a camera recording at the machine and must keep the footage up to 60 days for investigations.

Allow Retail Licensees to give free samples - allowed to give samples measuring 1oz of distilled spirits, or 2oz of wine, or 3oz of beer.  Must be products bought by the retail licensee and poured by a licensed person.  Beer and wine must be poured out at the end of each day.

2023

Oklahoma passed laws to allow16-17 year-olds to obtain a liquor license to sell alcohol in retail beer and/or retail wine establishments.

The Facts

•  31.9% of 12th graders reported use in the past 30 days (OPNA 2019/2020)

• 17.4% of 12th graders reported binge drinking in the last two weeks (OPNA 2019/2020)

• Oklahoma ranks 3rd in the nation for underage age drinking (Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation)

• Underage Drinking costs Oklahoma $1 billion. (2013 Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation)

• In Oklahoma approximately 1 in 8 (12.8%) of adults reported binge drinking (2014 Centers for Disease Control Factsheet Excessive Drinking)

• Oklahoma outpaces the nation in binge drinking intensity among adults with an average of 9 drinks per occasion (2014 Centers for Disease Control Factsheet Excessive Drinking)

• Oklahoma has the 11th highest rate of alcohol poisoning in the nation (CDC 2010-2012)

• Binge drinking costs Oklahoma $3.1 billion (CDC 2010)

• Binge drinking in Oklahoma costs each Oklahoma resident $821 (CDC 2010)

• Oklahoma ranks 6th in the nation for alcohol-related mortality (CDC 2018)

Alcohol & Health Disparities

According to NIAAA Publications, national surveys show variations across ethnicities in drinking, alcohol use disorders, alcohol problems, and treatment use. Higher rates of high-risk drinking among ethnic minorities are reported for Native Americans and Hispanics, although within-ethnic group differences (e.g., gender, age-group, and other subpopulations) also are evident for ethnicities. Whites and Native Americans have a greater risk for alcohol use disorders relative to other ethnic groups. However, once alcohol dependence occurs, Blacks and Hispanics experience higher rates than Whites of recurrent or persistent dependence. Furthermore, the consequences of drinking appear to be more profound for Native Americans, Hispanics, and Blacks. Disparities in alcohol treatment utilization are most apparent for Hispanics. Explanations for these differences are complex, likely affected by risky drinking behaviors, immigration experiences, racial/ethnic discrimination, economic and neighborhood disadvantage, and variations in alcohol-metabolizing genes. Research must maintain a systematic, strong, and growing focus on ethnic minorities. A more complete understanding of these effects for ethnic minority groups is needed to enable researchers to face the challenges of reducing and ultimately eliminating health disparities in the alcohol field.  

Alcohol & Youth

As stated on the Oklahoma State Department of Health webpage: 

• Adolescents who use alcohol may remember 10% less of what they have learned than those who don’t drink.

• Lower reading and math scores are linked to peer substance abuse. On average, students whose peers avoided substance use had test scores that were 18 points higher for reading, and 45 points higher for math.

• If the challenges in students’ learning, such as the problems directly related to underage drinking, are not addressed, then our youth will not be able to maximize their academic potential.

Alcohol and Pregnancy

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is no safe time to drink alcohol during pregnancy. Alcohol can cause problems for the developing baby throughout pregnancy, including before a woman knows she is pregnant. Drinking alcohol in the first three months of pregnancy can cause the baby to have abnormal facial features. Growth and central nervous system problems (e.g., low birthweight, behavioral problems) can occur from drinking alcohol anytime during pregnancy. The baby’s brain is developing throughout pregnancy and can be affected by exposure to alcohol at any time.

If a woman is drinking alcohol during pregnancy, it is never too late to stop. The sooner a woman stops drinking, the better it will be for both her baby and herself.

Alcohol Use among Athletes

The following is from Stanford University's Office of Alcohol Policy and Education:

• Alcohol is not considered to be a performance-enhancing substance. It slows the body down and can have effects up to one day after consumption.

• Alcohol influences balance, reaction time, fine and complex motor skills, and information processing.

• Drinking alcohol the night before or after a game can affect your performance. Hangovers can result in symptoms of headaches, nausea, diarrhea, fatigue, dehydration and body aches that can diminish athletic performance.

• There is no benefit from alcohol use for sport performance.

• Athletes who drink alcohol at least once per week have an elevated risk of injury as compared to athletes who do not drink.

• Consuming alcohol regularly depresses immune functioning and slows the healing process for sports-related injuries.

• Alcohol-related injuries in sports like cycling, boating, ice skating, snow skiing and swimming are likely related to a decrease in psychomotor functioning and impaired judgment.

Alcohol Use Testimonials

Coming soon

Alcohol Use and Road Safety

As stated on the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office website, in Oklahoma, it’s illegal to drive or operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher (DUI), or if the influence of alcohol renders the driver incapable of safely driving.

Impaired driving also includes other substances, including any amount of a Schedule-1 controlled substance or the use of any other intoxicating substance to the point where the driver is incapable of operating a vehicle safely.

These laws are essential to protect public safety, as alcohol-related crashes injure nearly 2,500 and kill approximately 220 Oklahomans each year.

In Oklahoma, being arrested for drunk driving can cost more than $10,000 in fines and fees.  In addition, Oklahoma laws require that any driver convicted of driving under the influence (DUI) or in actual physical control of a motor vehicle, aggravated DUI, with a blood alcohol content of 0.15 or higher, must install an ignition interlock device on every vehicle they own or which is registered to them.

License revocation is another penalty for impaired driving in Oklahoma. If an impaired driver fails or refuses a breath test, their license is confiscated immediately. The driver can request a hearing to challenge the ruling, but, if unsuccessful, their license will be suspended for a minimum of six months.

Sentencing can also occur after a trial or plea agreement. For a first felony, drunk drivers can expect 1-5 years of jail time, fines of up to $2,500 and a 1-year revocation of their license, if the license was previously revoked within the last 10 years. 

Second and subsequent charges carry 1-10 years of jail time, fines of up to $5,000 and an automatic 3-year or longer revocation of their license, if the license had been revoked 2 or more times in the past 10 years.

As part of the Drunk Driving Prevention Act, Oklahoma’s strict zero tolerance law makes underage drinking and driving a criminal offense. A conviction or deferred sentence for any of the following will result in license revocation and mandatory interlock:

• Any amount of alcohol found in the system of a driver under 21

• A person under 21 can be charged with a misdemeanor punishable by up to 10 days in jail and/or $1000 fine for their refusal to take a test.

• A first drug or alcohol offense, including possession, use or abuse committed by anyone under 18

• Misrepresenting one’s age to obtain alcohol by anyone under 21

Too Much 2 Lose  

OK Social Host Law Brochure 

DrugFree.org 

AlcoholEdu

Alcohol & Drug-Related Crash Data 2019

Use NIAAA's "Short Takes" video series to educate yourself and your community on common alcohol-related terms.

Should 16-17 year olds be selling alcohol? Click here for more information.

Do Sunday Sales really matter? Click here for more information.

What happens when laws increase access to alcohol in a community? Click here for more information.