Texas Beer Laws: When And Where You Can Buy

Texas has a long and complex history of regulating alcohol sales, with laws varying by type and day of the week. The state's blue laws, originally enacted in 1961, restricted the sale of certain items on consecutive weekend days to uphold the social and religious well-being of communities. While many of these laws have since been repealed, restrictions on alcohol sales remain. So, how long can you buy beer in Texas?

Beer and wine can be purchased from 7:00 am to midnight Monday through Friday, from 7:00 am to 1:00 am on Saturday, and from 10:00 am to midnight on Sunday. These hours apply to retail stores like convenience stores and grocery stores, as well as bars and restaurants. Liquor sales, on the other hand, are prohibited on Sundays and must end by 9:00 pm on weekdays and Saturdays.

Beer and wine sales timings at grocery and convenience stores

Texas has specific laws that dictate the sale of beer and wine, which vary depending on the day of the week and the type of establishment. These laws are known as "blue laws", originally designed to protect Sunday as a day of worship by limiting commercial activities. While many of these laws have been repealed, restrictions on alcohol sales remain.

Grocery and convenience stores in Texas are permitted to sell beer and wine during the following hours:

• Monday to Friday: 7:00 AM to midnight
• Saturday: 7:00 AM to 1:00 AM on Sunday
• Sunday: 10:00 AM to midnight

It is worth noting that these timings apply to grocery and convenience stores that do not sell liquor. The sale of liquor is prohibited on Sundays in Texas, and liquor stores must remain closed on this day.

Additionally, a wine-only package store with a beer license is not allowed to sell wine with an alcohol content exceeding 17% on Sundays or past 10:00 PM on any day. If a wine-only package store does not have a beer license, its operating hours must align with those of a regular liquor store, and it must remain closed on Sundays.

Texas has established statewide alcohol laws but also allows counties and cities to define some rules related to alcohol sales. There are 59 wet counties and four dry counties in Texas, where no alcohol is sold. The citizens of each county can hold local option elections to make any amendments to these rules.

Liquor store timings

Texas has a long and complex history of regulating the sale of alcohol. The state's liquor laws can be quite confusing, with varying time limits for purchasing alcohol depending on the day of the week and the type of alcohol and establishment. Here is a detailed guide to liquor store timings in Texas:

• Monday to Saturday: Liquor stores in Texas are typically open from 10 am to 9 pm, Monday through Saturday. This includes what are known as "package stores," which sell beer, wine, and liquor.
• Sunday: Texas law prohibits the sale of liquor on Sundays. Liquor stores must remain closed on Sundays, as well as on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. If any of these holidays fall on a Sunday, the stores must also remain closed on the following Monday.
• Holidays: In addition to Sundays, liquor stores in Texas are also closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.
• Extended Hours: Some counties and cities in Texas have different regulations. For example, in a city or county with a population over 800,000, establishments with a mixed beverage permit and a retailer late-hours certificate can sell mixed beverages until 2 am any night of the week.
• Beer and Wine: It is important to note that the timings mentioned above specifically refer to liquor stores. The hours for purchasing beer and wine can vary. In retail stores that don't sell liquor, such as convenience stores and grocery stores, beer and wine are typically sold from 7 am to midnight, Monday through Friday. On Saturdays, sales usually start at 7 am and continue until 1 am on Sunday morning. On Sundays, beer and wine sales are permitted from 10 am to midnight.
• Bars and Restaurants: The timings for bars and restaurants serving alcohol can vary slightly. They usually operate from 7 am to midnight, Monday through Friday, and from 7 am to 1 am on Saturdays. On Sundays, they can serve alcohol from noon to midnight, and from 10 am to noon if paired with food.

On-premise and off-premise license timings

Texas has a complex history of regulating the sale of alcohol, with laws known as 'blue laws' that were introduced in 1961 to uphold the social and religious well-being of communities. While many of these laws have since been repealed, restrictions on alcohol sales remain.

The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) outlines the following on-premise and off-premise license timings for the sale of alcohol:

On-Premise License Timings:

On-premise licenses are typically held by bars and restaurants. According to the TABC, the timings for on-premise alcohol sales are as follows:

• Monday to Friday: 7:00 a.m. to midnight
• Saturday: 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. on Sunday morning
• Sunday: 10:00 a.m. to midnight (noon to midnight without food; 10:00 a.m. to noon with food)

It's important to note that on Sundays, bars and restaurants can only serve alcohol from 10:00 a.m. to noon if it is accompanied by food. If food is not included in the order, alcohol sales can begin at noon.

Additionally, certain bars or restaurants with a "late hours" permit can serve alcohol until 2:00 a.m. any night of the week. Hotel bars can serve alcohol to registered guests at any time of day.

Off-Premise License Timings:

Off-premise licenses are typically held by convenience stores, grocery stores, and liquor stores. Here are the timings for off-premise alcohol sales:

• Monday to Friday: 7:00 a.m. to midnight for beer and wine sales in grocery and convenience stores; 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. for liquor sales in liquor stores
• Saturday: 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. on Sunday morning for beer and wine sales; 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. for liquor sales
• Sunday: 10:00 a.m. to midnight for beer and wine sales; liquor stores are closed

It is worth noting that Texas has different types of counties and cities with varying rules regarding alcohol sales. Texas has 59 wet counties and four dry counties. Citizens can vote in local option elections to make changes to these rules. For example, in a city or county with a population over 800,000, establishments with a mixed beverage permit and a retailer late-hours certificate can sell alcohol until 2:00 a.m. any day of the week.

Texas blue laws

Texas' blue laws, enacted in 1961 and repealed in 1985, prohibited the sale of 42 specific items on consecutive weekend days. While many of the original blue laws have been repealed, restrictions on alcohol and automobile sales remain.

Current Texas Blue Laws: Alcohol and Cars

The Texas statute that contains the alcohol-related blue laws is found in the Alcoholic Beverage Code, Chapter 105. This chapter outlines the hours of sale and consumption for various types of alcoholic beverages, including liquor, mixed beverages, malt beverages, and wine. It prohibits the sale of liquor on Sundays, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day, and sets specific hours for the sale and consumption of other alcoholic beverages.

The sale of alcohol on Sundays in Texas is subject to the following restrictions:

• Beer and Wine: Sales are permitted in grocery and convenience stores from 10 a.m. to midnight on Sundays.
• Liquor: Sales of liquor are prohibited on Sundays. Liquor stores must remain closed, reflecting stringent regulations aimed at limiting alcohol consumption.

Hours for Purchasing Alcohol in Texas by Type and Day of the Week:

• Monday to Friday: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. for liquor in stores.
• Saturday: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. for liquor; extended hours for beer and wine in some locations.
• Sunday: 10 a.m. to midnight for beer and wine; no liquor sales in stores, but bars and restaurants can serve alcoholic drinks after noon.

Car Sales Regulations

According to Section 728.002 of the Texas Transportation Code, car dealerships in Texas are prohibited from operating on both Saturday and Sunday. Dealers must choose one day of the weekend to open, typically Saturday. This ensures a mandatory day of rest and complies with the state's legislative intent to reduce commercial activity on Sundays.

Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC)

The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) is responsible for enforcing Texas's complex liquor laws, which vary depending on the type of alcohol and the day of the week. Here is a detailed overview of the TABC regulations for purchasing beer in Texas:

Grocery and Convenience Stores:

• Monday to Friday: Beer and wine can be purchased from 7:00 am to midnight.
• Saturday: Beer and wine sales are extended to 7:00 am–1:00 am on Sunday.
• Sunday: Beer and wine are available from 10:00 am to midnight.

Bars and Restaurants:

• Monday to Friday: Alcohol can be served from 7:00 am to midnight.
• Saturday: Alcohol service is available from 7:00 am to 1:00 am on Sunday.
• Sunday: Alcohol can be served from noon to midnight. Alcohol service with food is permitted from 10:00 am to noon.

Liquor Stores:

• Monday to Saturday: Liquor stores can operate from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm.
• Sunday: Liquor stores are closed.

It is important to note that these laws can vary by county and city, and there are additional regulations for specific types of establishments, such as sports venues and festivals. Texas also has specific laws regarding the minimum age requirements for selling and serving alcohol, as well as penalties for serving alcohol to minors. The TABC provides resources and training to help businesses and individuals understand and comply with these regulations.

Frequently asked questions