Oklahoma Code § 37A-2-113

Title 37A. Alcoholic Beverages: Caterer license - Rules and restrictions
Open in Lexace · Ask the AI about this section
A.  1.  A caterer license may be issued to any person for the
purpose of sale, delivery or distribution of alcoholic beverages
incidental to the sale or distribution of food on a premises not
licensed by the ABLE Commission.  For purposes of this section,
"incidental to the sale or distribution of food" means food sales
constituting at least thirty-five percent (35%) of the caterer's
total combined annual sales.  A caterer license shall not be issued
to a person whose main purpose is the sale of alcoholic beverages.
2.  A caterer license may only be issued to those persons that
prepare, sell and distribute food for consumption either on licensed
or unlicensed premises.  In order to renew a caterer license, annual
food sales must constitute at least thirty-five percent (35%) of the
caterer's total combined sales based on the most recent calendar

year.  A caterer shall not be required to prepare, sell and
distribute food at every catered event as long as the caterer
satisfies the requirement set forth in this section.
3.  Each caterer shall submit an annual sales report containing
revenue attributable to alcoholic beverages, food and all other
revenues attributable to the catering service.  The annual sales
report must be submitted thirty (30) days prior to expiration of the
caterer license on forms prescribed by the ABLE Commission.  The
caterer license may not be renewed if the caterer fails to provide
complete or sufficient financial data.
4.  Each caterer shall submit a monthly event report containing
information on all events scheduled for the subsequent month.  If an
event is scheduled after the first day of the month for an event to
occur in the same month, then the caterer shall report that event
within twenty-four (24) hours of scheduling the event or within
twenty-four (24) hours prior to the event, whichever occurs first.
The monthly event report shall be submitted on the first day of each
month.
5.  All reports shall be submitted electronically on forms
prescribed by the ABLE Commission.  Provided, if the caterer does
not have access to the Internet, then monthly reports must be
submitted by facsimile to the ABLE Commission's office in Oklahoma
City, in which case the caterer must retain a copy of the facsimile
confirmation sheet for at least twelve (12) months.
6.  Any caterer who fails to submit a monthly report shall have
the caterer license automatically suspended until such time that the
caterer has fully complied with all reporting requirements.  Any
caterer whose annual food sales do not exceed thirty-five percent
(35%) of his or her total annual combined sales shall not have the
caterer's license renewed.
B.  The ABLE Commission shall promulgate rules governing the
application for and the issuance of caterer licenses.
C.  The restrictions and rules which apply to the sale of mixed
beverages on the premises of a mixed beverage licensee also apply to
the sale under the authority of a caterer license.  Any act which if
done on the premises of a mixed beverage licensee would be a ground
for revocation or suspension of the mixed beverage license is a
ground for revocation or suspension of a caterer license.
D.  If the premises where the event being catered is held are
already operating pursuant to another type of license issued by the
ABLE Commission, the caterer and the other licensee shall both be
responsible for the actions of the caterer and shall both be subject
to penalties for violations by the caterer of the Oklahoma Alcoholic
Beverage Control Act and any rules promulgated thereto.
E.  A caterer licensee may not store alcoholic beverages unless
the licensee has a storage license issued by the ABLE Commission.  A
caterer licensee selling beer and cider to consumers shall only

purchase such beer and cider from the distributor or wholesaler
within the county in which the licensee will be selling the beer and
cider to consumers.
F.  A caterer may provide alcoholic beverage sales on the
premises of a person currently applying for an on-premises beer and
wine license, mixed beverage/caterer combination license, or mixed
beverage license, provided the following terms have been satisfied:
1.  The caterer shall take reasonable steps to ensure that the
on-premises beer and wine applicant, mixed beverage/caterer
combination applicant, or mixed beverage applicant uses only
licensed employees to perform licensable activities while using the
caterer's license.  The caterer shall use his or her best efforts to
attempt to have a licensed employee on-site supervising the sale of
such caterer's alcoholic beverages at all times, but the caterer
shall not be disciplined for failing to have a licensed employee on-
site.  The caterer expressly acknowledges that he or she is liable
for all violations of the Oklahoma Alcoholic Beverage Control Act
and rules of the ABLE Commission that are committed by the on-
premises beer and wine applicant, the mixed beverage/caterer
combination applicant, or the mixed beverage applicant and its
employees during this period;
2.  The caterer and the on-premises beer and wine applicant, the
mixed beverage/caterer combination applicant, or the mixed beverage
applicant must submit to the ABLE Commission a written agreement
setting forth all the terms of the catering agreement at least
twenty-four (24) hours prior to the commencement of the catered
event;
3.  The caterer may not provide alcoholic beverage sales on the
unlicensed premises of the on-premises beer and wine applicant,
mixed beverage/caterer combination applicant, or the mixed beverage
applicant for more than sixty (60) days, or after the applicant's
license has been denied, whichever occurs first;
4.  The caterer may be issued a storage license to be used to
store any alcoholic beverages purchased pursuant to this subsection
on the unlicensed premises of the applicant during the period of the
written agreement; and
5.  Upon the issuance of a license to the on-premises beer and
wine applicant, the mixed beverage/caterer combination applicant, or
the mixed beverage applicant, any alcoholic beverages on the
licensed storage premises may be transferred by the caterer to the
on-premises beer and wine licensee, the mixed beverage/caterer
combination licensee, or the mixed beverage licensee consistent with
the provisions of Section 2-155 of this title.
G.  A caterer may provide alcoholic beverage services for
temporary public events which have been licensed and approved by the
ABLE Commission.

H.  A caterer may provide alcoholic beverage services for a
mixed beverage licensee which holds a live performing arts
presentation and is open to the public not more than one hundred
twenty (120) days per year.
I.  All alcoholic beverages served on the premises of an event
venue must be served by an ABLE-licensed mixed beverage licensee,
caterer licensee, or event bartender licensee.  As a prerequisite to
the issuance of an event bartender license, not later than fourteen
(14) days after initial licensure, the event bartender licensee
shall be required to have successfully completed an in-person
training program conducted by an entity approved by the ABLE
Commission.  Proof of training completion shall be made available
for inspection by the ABLE Commission at the event venue location.
The failure of an event bartender to comply with this section may
constitute a revocable offense.
Added by Laws 2016, c. 366, § 25, eff. Oct. 1, 2018.  Amended by
Laws 2019, c. 322, § 5, emerg. eff. May 7, 2019; Laws 2023, c. 42, §
1, eff. Nov. 1, 2023; Laws 2024, c. 238, § 1, emerg. eff. May 1,
2024; Laws 2025, c. 190, § 4, eff. July 1, 2026.
NOTE:  Laws 2016, c. 366, was conditionally effective upon passage
of State Question No. 792, Legislative Referendum No. 370, which was
adopted at election held on Nov. 8, 2016.

‹ Prev All Oklahoma sections Next ›


Lexace provides legal information, not legal advice, and no attorney–client relationship is created. Statute text is provided for general information and may not reflect the most recent amendments; verify against the official state code.