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Present Duties

Five citizen commissioners set policy for the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC). Commissioners are appointed by the governor to four-year terms, subject to Senate confirmation. Each represents a state congressional district, with one coming from the food and beverage industry. The OLCC promotes the public interest through the responsible sale and service of alcoholic beverages. It was created in 1933 by a special session of the Legislature after national prohibition ended. Oregon is a “control state” with the exclusive right to sell packaged distilled spirits, dispersed statewide from a 230,000-square-foot distribution center and sold in 248 retail liquor stores operated by contracted agents. The agency is headquartered in Portland with regional offices in Bend, Eugene, Medford and Salem.

The OLCC ensures that only qualified people and businesses are licensed to sell and serve alcoholic beverages. Licenses are issued to private businesses such as grocery stores to sell beer and wine and to restaurants, bars and taverns to sell beer, wine and distilled spirits by the glass.

The OLCC works to control underage drinking and alcohol problems with a balanced blend of liquor law enforcement and outreach education. Much of this is carried out by the agency’s Public Safety Services Program. OLCC inspectors work with licensees to help them comply with liquor laws. The agency also administers the Alcohol Education Program, which focuses on responsible alcohol service. All alcohol servers must complete the training course every five years.

In fiscal year 2011–12, the OLCC distributed $194.1 million to Oregon. The state’s General Fund received $110.2 million, cities received $34.2 million, $17.1 million went to counties and city revenue sharing received $24 million. Revenue is also distributed to mental health, alcoholism and drug services, as well as to the
Oregon Wine Board.

The OLCC also enforces the Bottle Bill under which any malt, carbonated beverage or water container sold in Oregon must have a refund value of at least five cents.

 

Contact Information

Mailing Address: 9079 SE McLoughlin Blvd., Portland 97222-7355
Telephone: 503-872-5000; Toll-free: 1-800-452-6522
Fax: 503-872-5266
General E-mail: joli.whitney@state.or.us
Contact: Merle Lindsey, Interim Executive Director
Administrative Rules Coordinator E-mail: Annabelle Henry
Records Officer E-mail: Debbie Amsberry
Staff Directory from Oregon.gov
Location Map: by Yahoo! Maps

Legal and Legislative Information

Statutory Authority: ORS Chapters 471, 472, 473
Administration Budget Analysis (pdf) - by Legislative Fiscal Office
Audit Reports - select agency from menu

Records, Publications and General Information

Agency History (pdf) - a detailed history of the agency
Records Retention Schedule (pdf) - a list of the public records kept at the agency
State Archives Holdings - a select list of the agency's records available for research at the State Archives
State Library Publications - a link to the Oregon State Library Catalog