Did you know that Oklahoma entered the union in 1907 as a dry state? Apparently, it was a bit ahead of its time as its “dry” status pre-dated national Prohibition which was enacted in 1920. Even after the repeal of Prohibition, the “OK” state maintained its strict anti-alcohol stance until the 50s. By then, public sentiment was shifting more towards legalizing booze and regulating alcohol sales. This led to the passage of the Oklahoma Alcoholic Beverage Control Act and, thereby, the creation of the Alcohol Control Board, a precursor to the Oklahoma ABLE Commission. With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at the Oklahoma ABLE Commission history.
Creation and Early Years
The Oklahoma Alcohol Beverage Law Enforcement (ABLE) Commission was created in 1959. Like many like-minded state-enacted commissions, its initial purpose was to regulate the sale, distribution and possession of alcoholic beverages. The Oklahoma ABLE Commission was there to ensure compliance with the state’s new laws as well as protect the public welfare of its constituents. The commission was intentionally structured as an independent agency. This means that it was designed to operate with a degree of autonomy.
Soon after, the Oklahoma ABLE Commission’s responsibilities expanded as a result of social and legal issues as well as a number of evolving challenges. The commission then took on the additional responsibilities of licensing specific venues including breweries, distributors, retailers, wholesalers and even event operators. They also busied themselves with conducting compliance checks and creating educational awareness and training for industry professionals as well as the public. Of note is the fact that the agency often lists its official “form year” as 1984. This is done to reflect the many structural and statutory updates in its functions as an enforcement agency.
The Oklahoma ABLE Commission in More Recent Years
In the more recent years of the ABLE Commission history, the organization achieved a bit of a milestone. In 2016 the state passed State Question 792. This comprehensive package modernized Oklahoma’s booze laws, allowing grocery and convenience stores to sell strong beer and wine while also eliminating the distinction between low and high-point beer. Of course, the Oklahoma ABLE Commission was tasked with overseeing these new laws which also involved updating the licensing process, training enforcement personnel and educating venues and the general public about these changes.
Today, you will see that the Oklahoma ABLE Commission still plays a vital role when it comes to enforcing statewide regulations while also informing Oklahomans about the dangers of over-serving, over imbibing and underage drinking. Its ongoing mission is to keep a strong focus on the protection of public health while promoting responsible business practices.
Here, at American Course Academy, our state-approved training courses include a thorough understanding of state laws and alcohol server responsibilities. You can complete enrollment in our Oklahoma state-approved alcohol-seller certification in minutes and have your training finished in a couple hours. Our Oklahoma ABLE training is presented in both English and Spanish.
