MuskogeePhoenix.com, Muskogee, OK

Editorials

Discussion

June 22, 2012

Wine in stores best decided by voters

Allowing voters to decide whether to allow wine to be sold in grocery stores on a county-by-county basis is the fairest way to determine the issue.

Oklahoma’s Constitution restricts the sale of wine to licensed retail liquor stores — an exception is made for the more than 60 wineries throughout the state, which are allowed to sell their bottles in their tasting rooms.

 Opponents of the potential new law say moving wine from liquor stores to grocery stores will make alcohol too readily available and will increase the potential for addiction and abuse.

An attorney for Fighting Addiction Through Education and the Oklahoma Prevention Alliance said increasing the availability would contribute to more abuse and underage drinking, according to the Associated Press.

Liquor retailers also oppose the plan.

The ballot question is a long way from seeing the light of day.

Oklahomans for Modern Laws must first collect the signatures of 155,216 registered voters to get the issue on the November ballot.

If passed in a statewide vote in November, voters in each of the 15 largest counties in the state the would be able to determine the issue.

And, Oklahoma Supreme Court justices are weighing the constitutionality of the plan. The justices have not said when they would make a decision.

If enough voters:

• Sign the petition;

• Vote yes in November; and

• Vote yes in the affected counties, then the will of the people will have been heard.

Text Only
Editorials