PORTLAND (AP) - State-licensed liquor stores may soon be allowed to add gift items embossed with liquor logos to their inventory, under a new proposal being considered by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission.

Under current rules, the liquor store agents can only sell distilled spirits, ice, mixers, tobacco products and food related to alcoholic drinks, like limes or olives.

The proposal to add logo-embossed products, like T-shirts or golf balls, is on the agenda for the commission's telephone conference meeting at 11 a.m. Monday. If the commission agrees, the agency would accept public comment before taking an up-or-down vote on the matter.

The proposed change would affect only stores run by contracted agents whose business is essentially limited to liquor and related items.

Operators of retail stores in rural communities that also have liquor sales are already allowed to sell any other goods in their non-liquor operations, said Jim MacAlistaire, director of store operations.

The state has 239 liquor outlets. Of those, more than 80 sell distilled spirits in broader retail operations, all but a few of them in rural areas.

The state agency also is conducting a pilot project that places liquor retail outlets in larger grocery stores in more populated areas, so far in Washington County, Bend and Portland. The third such store opened about two weeks ago, said Ken Palke, OLCC spokesman.

That project has upset the contracted agents, who fear the competitive impact on their stand-alone stores.

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Information from: The Oregonian