Bottle Service Legislation Passes House

OKLAHOMA CITY – A bill that would allow Oklahoma businesses to offer “bottle service” passed off the House floor last week with a bipartisan vote of 90 to 9.

House Bill 2651, authored by Rep. Ajay Pittman (D-99, Oklahoma City), provides a definition of “bottle service” as used in the Oklahoma Alcoholic Beverage Control Act to mean the sale and provision of spirits in their original packages by a mixed beverage licensee to be consumed in that mixed beverage licensee's club suite.

“This legislation is more about economic development than alcohol,” Rep. Pittman said. “Since the addition of the Thunder, Oklahoma City has continued to grow. That growth has brought us opportunities to expand business and provide people with unique nightlife experiences to accommodate high end entertainment.”

The measure provides a definition of “club suite” to mean a designated area within the premises of a mixed beverage licensee. The measure would also allow a mixed beverage license holder to sell spirits in a club suite.

In a statement released by the House of Representatives, Jeff Rogers of Rogers Concepts, the owners of three nightclubs in Oklahoma City, said “The passing of this bill helps modernize our laws and ultimately make our state a larger attraction to out of state business. It will open doors to more economic growth, more local jobs and more opportunity for local businesses.”

“We’re always in a competition with other states for residents and visitors who expect the same entertainment options they find in other places,” added Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt. “Sometimes that means modernizing our laws to allow consumers to have freedom of choice and entrepreneurs to explore business models that are popular around the country.”

House Bill 2651, co-authored by Rep. Dean Davis (R-98, Broken Arrow) now moves to the Senate where its progress will be supervised by Sen. George Young (D-48, Oklahoma City), the bill’s Senate Author.