The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drug Control could take over regulation of alcoholic beverages under a measure introduced in the state legislature, the Oklahoman reported Feb. 14.

The bill sponsored by Rep. Gus Blackwell would abolish the state Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement (ABLE) Commission and shift its responsibilities to the drug-control agency and the Oklahoma Tax Commission. If passed by the legislature, the measure would still require voter approval before it went into effect.

"We just have a multitude of agencies, boards and commissions that do similar and also identical functions and this is one that just seems to be a very compatible fit, putting alcohol regulation under an agency that already does dangerous drugs and narcotics," said Blackwell.

ABLE Commission director Keith Burt argued that the state is better served by having a standalone alcohol-enforcement agency. "Our mission is No. 1 to us, but if we put our mission with anybody else, does that mission become diluted? And I think that's a possibility," Burt said.

Some alcohol-industry members also objected to being placed under an agency tasked with fighting illicit drugs.

Burt said that the move would cost the state money in the form of increased salaries, but Blackwell said the move would allow staff to be consolidated and result in better enforcement and fee collection.