Oregon’s alcohol laws, overseen by the Oregon Liquor and Beverage Commission (OLCC), balance consumer convenience with strict regulations on sales, delivery, and promotions like happy hours. These rules have evolved, especially around home delivery during and post-COVID, while happy hour advertising faced historical limits before recent easing.
Home Delivery Rules
Alcohol delivery is allowed daily from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM, with platforms like DoorDash typically cutting off orders by 9:00-9:30 PM to comply. Licensees with off-premises privileges can deliver beer, wine, cider, and spirits within state limits, such as up to 5 gallons if ordered by 4:00 PM or 2 liters closer to cutoff, but must verify recipients are 21+ and not intoxicated. Curbside pickup and direct shipments from distilleries or stores are also permitted after in-person verification.
Happy Hour Regulations
Happy hours are legal, but off-premises advertising was restricted until recent OLCC amendments removed bans on promoting price reductions for on-site consumption. Prohibitions remain on ads implying intoxication, excessive drinking, or multi-drink purchase requirements like “two-for-one,” though examples like “$2 drafts on Fridays” are now more feasible. Inside venues, specifics like “$4.50 wells from 4-6 PM” can be posted without issue.
Key Complexity Factors
Oregon’s system distinguishes distilled spirits (state-controlled via liquor stores) from beer/wine (privately licensed), leading to varied delivery and promo rules. COVID-era changes expanded delivery hours to 2:30 AM temporarily, but standard limits persist to curb overuse. Businesses need OLCC approval for same-day delivery, adding compliance layers.
