County Alcohol Law Revision up For Vote in June

For the second time in about six years, Seminole County voters will face a proposal to modify the county’s alcohol laws, which currently prohibit clubs and restaurants from serving alcoholic beverages on Sundays and holidays. In April 2019, voters defeated a proposal to change the county laws by a slim margin of 341320 votes. In their Feb. 10 meeting, the Seminole County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to reintroduce a similar proposal in a June 10 special election. According to the minutes of the Feb. 10 meeting, the commissioners approved the calling of the election and the following proclamation: “Shall the retail of alcoholic beverages by the individual drink for on-premises consumption be authorized and made lawful in Seminole County, Oklahoma, daily and conformance with state statute? Yes-for the proposition. No-against the proposition” When “liquor by the drink” passed in the early 1980’s, it was left up to individual counties to determine when liquor could be sold by the drink. At that time, Seminole County elected not to allow liquor to be sold by the drink on Sundays. The stronger point beer allowed under SQ 792—passed by Oklahoma voters in 2016—falls into the “liquor” category, so restaurants and clubs are still prohibited from selling beer on Sundays and designated holidays.