The Oregon Liquor Control Commission is considering some rule changes that would allow customers to buy beer, wine and hard liquor in the same place.

The OLCC is proposing two new rules, one that would allow state liquor stores to sell wine and beer, and the other making it easier for grocery stores to open liquor outlets within their existing stores.

The proposal follows the vote last month in Washington state to get government out of the liquor business. The successful ballot initiative allows Washington grocery stores to sell alcohol, with the expected loss of more than 900 state jobs in state-run liquor stores. Scheduled to take effect in June 2012, it has been challenged in court.

Although skeptics might think Oregon’s new proposed rules are designed to head off an initiative like Washington’s, OLCC Public Affairs Specialist Christie Scott said that’s not the case. They’ve been in the works for 18 months, she said, and the goal is to modernize the stores and improve the customer experience.

She said the commission decided to put off a decision on the proposals until March to allow more study and to see if any related issues come up in the legislative session beginning in February.

Oregonians can now buy hard liquor in state-controlled liquor stories, but most of those outlets don’t sell wine and beer. State liquor stores are either “exclusive,” meaning they sell only hard liquor and related items, or “nonexclusive,” meaning they can sell other items as well, said Scott. The nonexclusive stores tend to be in rural areas that could not support a stand-alone store. The new rule would provide more flexibility, allowing more stores to sell more products.

Under current regulations, grocery stores and other retail establishments are permitted to sell wine and beer, but not hard liquor. In some cases, like Ray’s Food Place on Bend’s west side, there was a store-within-a-store, with the liquor license held by an individual, not the store itself. The proposed change would allow the corporation to be the licensee. Scott said more stores would likely apply under those conditions, so customers would have more outlets.

If approved, the changes could increase customer convenience, but they would not remove OLCC control. The commission would determine what stores get the broader sales options.

Creating better options for consumers is a positive move, but Oregon will be better off if it follows the lead of its neighbor to the north and gets the government out of the liquor business. The OLCC’s role should be limited to keeping alcohol out of the hands of minors and making sure tax revenue is collected.