Oregon liquor license cost raised for 1st time in 70 years

SALEM, Ore. — The cost of a liquor license in Oregon is going up for the first time in 70 years after newly passed legislation doubled the amount the agency will charge bars, restaurants, breweries and wineries for the right to sell alcohol to customers.

The law moves Oregon's liquor fees from among the cheapest in the nation to just below the national average for such fees, but the agency says getting on a par with other states was not the motivation.

The Oregon Liquor Control Commission wants to use the new revenue to move its license renewal process online, deal with the increase in applications statewide as the population grows and create a more efficient, two-year renewal option.

"Our fees were set in 1949, as far as we know, back when bread was 10 cents a loaf," said OLCC spokesman Matthew Van Sickle.

Read more: https://www.kgw.com/article/money/oregon-liquor-license-cost-raised-for-1st-time-in-70-years/283-4b53182f-adf1-4d12-bcf3-fec02b55852c