A resolution calling for a popular vote on whether Oklahoma wineries may ship wine to visitors is on hold.
Rep. Dan Kirby asked his resolution calling for the vote be laid over. He seemed frustrated after facing a flurry of questions from Reps. Mike Ritze and Todd Russ, who vehemently oppose relaxing alcohol laws.
Ritze told Kirby he’s worried minors might get their hands on wine sent to the wrong house.
"I get mail from people all the time that are not — to my address, to my — someone I don't even know who lives in the area," Ritze said.
"Do you open that mail that comes to you on a wrong address? If you get mail and it comes to you, that's a federal offense," Kirby said. "If my mail accidentally comes to your address, it has my name on it and you open it, that's a federal offense."
Russ said there’s no guarantee shipments would reach someone of legal drinking age.
"UPS is not required to check that," Russ said. "There's no way to guarantee that this could be a 21-year-old person."
UPS and Fed Ex’s policies require a signature from someone 21 or older for wine shipments. UPS leaves checking ID to the driver’s discretion. Fed Ex requires government-issued photo ID.
Rep. R.C. Pruett asked the lone question in support.
"Would we be the only state that's doing this, or is there more states involved in this program?" Pruett said.
"Thank you for that question. No, sir. We're one of the last states," Kirby said. "I hate being last. There are 42 other states that are already doing this."
Kirby's resolution called for a constitutional amendment allowing the state’s wineries to ship wine to people who had visited in person.
