Beer sales up with new laws, but some liquor stores hurt

(AP) Oklahoma beer makers say they are seeing the benefits of the state’s looser laws on alcohol, but some liquor stores say their business has been hurt.

The Oklahoma Beer Alliance says some of its members have seen double-digit sales growth since a voter-approved overhaul of state liquor laws went into effect in October. Prior to the change, liquor stores couldn’t refrigerate beverages and grocery and convenience stores could not sell wine and could only sell cold beer if it was 3.2 percent alcohol by volume.

Anheuser-Busch’s Oklahoma sales director, Jason Hall, says the world’s largest beer producer is now working with more than 1,000 additional retailers than it did last year.

But Vance Gregory tells KFOR that competition from grocery stores has meant a 20-25 percent decrease in sales at his Edmond wine shop.