Word has it that OK+ (in excess of 3.2) Budweiser is coming to a liquor store near you.
A couple of popular Budweiser products — Bud Light Lime-A-Ritas and Straw-Ber-Ritas — will be in liquor stores in November, according to Freddy Lamport, owner of the BierGarten in Jenks.
Budweiser is listed as being available for purchase in kegs in November, along with Budweiser Black Crown. Lime-A-Rita and Straw-Ber-Ritas will be available in cans.
Oklahoma law prevents the sale of 3.2-point malt beverages in liquor stores. Budweiser has always had the option of selling higher-point OK+ versions of its products at liquor stores in the state, so I think this change means Budweiser is seeing the big picture. Sales are big in liquor stores, and Budweiser wants to be a part of it. Craft beers have been doing great in market share, and Budweiser is adjusting its plan.
Mike Thornbrugh, a spokesman for QuikTrip, hopes this news will help usher in new liquor laws.
“We hope that when this happens (Anheuser-Busch) will help change Oklahoma’s laws to enable QuikTrip to sell same strength beers along with liquor stores,” he said. “We think the consumers should have a choice.”
Only four states — Oklahoma, Minnesota, Colorado and Utah — have 3.2 ABW (alcohol by weight) beer laws.
“If Anheuser-Busch’s objective is to provide product besides cereal malt beverages, we hope they will join us in Oklahoma and Kansas to get rid of the old prohibitionist law of 3.2,” Thornbrugh said. “QT operates in 11 states. In nine of these states we offer same strength beer and wine; in fact, we can sell spirits in five states.
“It is way past time for the adult beverage laws to change and reflect a modern society.”
As a liquor store owner, Lamport agrees with adjusting the current laws.
“I think any positive step in Oklahoma’s liquor laws is a step in the right direction,” Lamport said. “It is yet to be seen how these beers will be accepted.”
I hope that this will help get Oklahoma’s liquor laws more like the rest of the region’s, but we’ll have to wait and see. Check back at
tulsaworld.com/whattheale for updates and more information.
