Critics Don’t Want OLCC to Make Relaxed Alcohol Delivery Rules Permanent

The agency adjusted its parameters because of COVID-19; advocates fear that could lead to abuse.

Life of Riley, NW 10th and Everett. (Brian Burk)

The Oregon Liquor Control Commission's rules advisory committee met July 21 to consider making permanent the temporary rules allowing home and curbside delivery of wine, beer and liquor.

The OLCC temporarily relaxed rules because of COVID-19, but those rules expire in September. Both the state Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission and Oregon Recovers, an addiction treatment advocacy group, have urged the OLCC not to make the temporary changes permanent. In a letter to the commission, Multnomah County Circuit Judge Eric Bloch said the proposed changes would make it harder to "reduce the incidence of alcohol-use disorder and other unhealthy uses of alcohol."

OLCC spokesman Mark Pettinger says the agency doesn't think relaxed delivery rules increase consumption significantly, and is merely seeking to comply with social distancing requirements while still providing economic opportunity to the alcohol industry.

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