The laws regarding the production, sale and consumption of beer, wine, and liquor vary right the way across the United States. Whilst most states follow similar laws such as having to be at least 21 years of age to buy or consume alcohol, other rules and laws vary quite a lot.

What might be deemed okay in one state might be illegal in another. Take Oklahoma for example. In Oklahoma, it is illegal to serve alcohol if you’re under the age of 21. However, in South Carolina, you only have to be 18 to serve alcohol on-site.

As you can imagine, this confusion causes problems that can lead to serious punishment and fines. To help you avoid those problems, we’ve put together a simple guide that tells you everything you need to know about liquor laws and regulations in Oklahoma.

We’ll look at the general rules, state fees, licensing requirements, and distillery restrictions/laws, so stick around!

General Liquor Laws And Regulations In Oklahoma

Let’s start by looking at some of the general liquor laws and regulations you have to follow if you live in Oklahoma. When it comes to drinking alcohol, you must be at least 21 years old to buy or consume alcohol. You can’t even enter a liquor store on your own in Oklahoma if you’re under the age of 21.

People under the age of 21 can only purchase low-point beer which is less than 3.2 percent if they are under the direct supervision of their parent or guardian. Interestingly, it is also illegal to consume or even inhale any intoxicating beverage in public in Oklahoma.

As you would expect, it is also illegal to be intoxicated or drunk in public. Anyone that breaks these laws can be punished with a fine of $10 to $100 or up to 30 days imprisonment. As is the case in most states, Oklahoma prohibits the sale of alcoholic beverages to persons under the age of 21.

Selling Liquor In Oklahoma

If you plan to sell liquor in Oklahoma, you must follow all the laws and regulations set out by the state perfectly. To sell alcohol in Oklahoma, an individual or business must first obtain the applicable liquor license.

Once the correct license has been obtained, liquor can be sold. When it comes to selling liquor in Oklahoma, there are some very strict laws to follow. Under Oklahoma law, it is illegal to sell or deliver alcoholic beverages to a person under the age of 21.

It is also against the law to sell or deliver alcohol to an intoxicated person who has been adjudged to be insane or mentally deficient. You also cannot allow anyone that wants to buy liquor to be drunk on a licensed premise.

Another important law to remember is that any alcoholic beverages sold to retail customers must be purchased from a licensed spirits and wine wholesaler, or a beer distributor.

Any employee that serves or sells alcoholic beverages must be licensed. It is illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to sell alcohol in Oklahoma.

What Happens If You Break Liquor Sale Laws In Oklahoma?

Breaking any of the above laws in Oklahoma can lead to serious consequences. More often than not, breaking any of these laws results in a fine or community service. However, you could also see your license revoked, your business shut down, or be punished with community service.

Selling alcohol to a minor is usually punishable by a $300 to $500 fine or 30 hours of community service.

If someone sells liquor in Oklahoma without a license, they can face up to 6 months in prison and a maximum fine of $2,500.

Operating Hours For For Serving Liquor In Oklahoma

Oklahoma has very simple rules to follow when it comes to operating hours for serving liquor. Alcohol can be served in retail beer and wine establishments (if licensed) between the hours of 6 am to 2 am, seven days a week.

Failure to obey these rules can result in fines, license cancellation, and community service.

Oklahoma State Fees

In Oklahoma, state fees apply to any alcoholic beverage transaction. The state fees apply to general sales and liquor vendors. Oklahoma’s general sales tax of 4.5% applies to the purchase of alcohol in a liquor store, bar, or restaurant.

Liquor vendors are responsible for paying a state excise tax which works out to $5.56 per gallon. Vendors must also pay Federal excise taxes for all liquor they sell. Federal excise tax for beer comes to approximately $18 per 31-gallon barrel.

Meanwhile, the Federal excise tax for wine is $1.07 per gallon. For distilled spirits, vendors pay a tax of $13.50 per gallon.

Different Types Of Liquor Licenses Available In Oklahoma

If you want to start an alcohol business in Oklahoma, you must obtain the right license. In Oklahoma, you have to apply for a liquor license through the Oklahoma Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement Commission, otherwise known as ABLE.

The type of license you will need depends on what you plan on doing, how many employees you have, and the type of alcohol you plan to sell. We’ve listed the different liquor licenses you can apply for in Oklahoma below.

• Employee license
• Bottle club license
• Distributor license
• Wholesaler license
• Retail license
• Events license
• Manufacturer license
• Low-point beer license
• Airline and railroad license

How Much Does A Liquor License In Oklahoma Cost?

How much a license to sell or manufacture liquor in Oklahoma will cost you depends on the type of license you need. License fees vary depending on the type of business and the corresponding license you need.

However, generally speaking, it can cost anything from $50 to $6,000 for first-time applicants.

Licensing Requirements And Distillery Restrictions/Laws

To open your own liquor distillery in Oklahoma there are a number of different licenses you need. For starters, it is illegal to open a distillery without a Distillery License. A distillery license costs $1,000 a year and a $905 fee.

There are several other licenses you need at a federal and state level. To manufacture spirits, you must also submit a request to be given a TTB 5110.41 Basic Permit. This gives you permission to produce spirits. You will then need a separate license to sell it.

Another important license you need is a distilling equipment and distillery TTB 5100.24 Distilled spirit plant license.

Distillery licenses in Oklahoma restrict what you can and can’t manufacture. No person is allowed to manufacture, rectify, possess, sell, store, import, or export any alcoholic beverage that hasn’t been approved by the Oklahoma Alcoholic Beverage Control Act.

Failure to comply with the laws or to operate without a license can result in a $2,500 to $5,000 fine and up to 3 years of imprisonment.

Final Thoughts

In this guide, we’ve told you everything you need to know about the liquor laws and regulations in Oklahoma. Whether you want to buy alcohol, sell it, or even manufacture it yourself, we’ve provided you with the information you need.

Now you have this guide at your fingertips, you should be able to manufacture, sell, consume, and distribute alcohol around Oklahoma without breaking any laws. To avoid any legal issues, always come back to this guide to refresh your mind.