Oklahoma law to allow breweries to sell full-strength beer

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – A new Oklahoma law that will go into effect this summer will allow craft breweries to sell full-strength beer.

The Oklahoman reports that Gov. Mary Fallin approved the law this week, allowing craft breweries to sell glasses of full-strength beer to visitors, as well as cans, bottles and growlers for customers to take home. The law will go into effect Aug. 25.

State law thus far has limited craft brewers to selling 3.2 beer and providing up to 12-ounce samples of full-strength beer on premises. To sell full-strength beer, Oklahoma brewers have had to go through a wholesaler that distributes the product to liquor stores.

Republican state Sen. Brian Crain of Tulsa says he decided to sponsor the bill because he believes Oklahoma’s alcohol laws were outdated.