Best Time To Buy Beer In Texas On Sundays

Texas has complex liquor laws that can make it tricky to know when you can buy alcohol. These laws, known as blue laws, were 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 While many of these laws have been repealed, restrictions on alcohol sales remain. Beer and wine can be purchased from grocery and convenience stores from 10 am to midnight on Sundays, and bars and restaurants can serve alcohol from 10 am to noon on Sundays if paired with food. Liquor sales, however, are prohibited on Sundays, and liquor stores must remain closed.

Beer and wine sales at retail stores

Texas has complex liquor laws that can be tricky to navigate. The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) regulates the sale of beer, wine, and liquor, with specific hours for each type of alcohol and the day of the week.

• Monday to Friday: 7 a.m. to midnight
• Saturday: 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Sunday morning
• Sunday: 10 a.m. to midnight

It is important to note that these laws apply to beer as well. In Texas, it is illegal to sell beer or any type of liquor before 10 a.m. on Sundays.

A wine-only package store with a beer license has different restrictions. These stores are prohibited from selling wine with an alcohol content exceeding 17% on Sundays or after 10 p.m. on any day. If a wine-only package store does not have a beer license, it must adhere to the same operating hours as a liquor store and remain closed on Sundays.

On-Premises Consumption at Bars and Restaurants

The hours for on-premises consumption at bars and restaurants differ slightly from retail stores. On Sundays, alcohol sales are only permitted between 10 a.m. and noon if paired with food. If food is not included in the order, alcohol sales can begin at noon.

Bars with "late-hours" permits can serve alcohol until 2 a.m. any night of the week. Additionally, festivals, fairs, and concerts with licenses can sell alcoholic drinks after 10 a.m. on Sundays.

Sunday sales at bars and restaurants

Texas has strict laws regarding the sale of alcohol, and these vary depending on the type of alcohol and the day of the week. The laws can be tricky to navigate, and the hours of sale are different for on-premises and off-premises consumption.

Bars and restaurants in Texas can serve alcohol from 10 a.m. to midnight on Sundays, but there are some important conditions to be aware of. If customers are ordering food, alcohol can be served from 10 a.m. However, if the order does not include food, alcohol sales cannot begin until noon.

Additionally, bars with "late-hours" permits can serve alcohol until 2 a.m. any night of the week. This extended serving time also applies to festivals, fairs, and concerts with licenses, which can sell alcoholic drinks after 10 a.m. on Sundays.

On-Premises Consumption

On-premises consumption refers to drinking alcohol at bars or restaurants. The hours of sale for on-premises consumption are as follows:

• Monday to Friday: 7 a.m. to midnight
• Saturday: 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. (Sunday morning)
• Sunday: Noon to midnight (10 a.m. to noon only with the service of food)

Liquor store opening times

Texas has complex liquor laws that can be tricky to navigate. The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) regulates the sale of alcohol in the state, and there are different rules depending on the type of alcohol and the day of the week.

Liquor stores in Texas, also known as package stores, are not allowed to open on Sundays, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. If one of these holidays falls on a Sunday, the stores must remain closed on the following Monday. During the week, liquor stores can sell alcohol from 10 am to 9 pm, Monday through Saturday.

Beer and Wine Sales

Beer and wine sales are allowed during specific hours, depending on the day and the type of retailer. Retail stores that don't sell liquor, such as convenience stores and grocery stores, can offer beer and wine from 7 am to midnight, Monday through Friday. On Saturdays, sales are extended until 1 am on Sunday morning. Since 2021, these stores can sell beer and wine starting at 10 am on Sundays instead of noon, as was previously the case.

Bars and restaurants follow similar hours to retail stores, but with some differences on Sundays. They can only serve alcohol from 10 am to noon on Sundays if it is paired with food. If food is not included in the order, alcohol-only sales begin at noon.

Wineries are allowed to serve alcohol from 8 am to midnight, Monday through Saturday, and from 10 am to midnight on Sundays.

On-Premise and Off-Premise Consumption

On-premise license or permit holders, such as bars or restaurants, can serve alcohol from 7 am to midnight, Monday through Friday. On Saturdays, they can serve from 7 am to 1 am on Sunday morning, and on Sundays, from noon to midnight (10 am to noon only with the service of food).

Off-premise beer and wine license or permit holders, such as convenience stores or grocery stores, have similar hours to retail stores. They can sell beer and wine from 7 am to midnight, Monday through Friday, and from 7 am to 1 am on Saturday. On Sundays, they can sell from 10 am to midnight.

Special Cases

There are some special cases to consider as well. Bars with "late-hours" permits can serve alcohol until 2 am any night of the week. Festivals, fairs, and concerts with licenses can sell alcoholic drinks after 10 am on Sundays. Additionally, wineries are allowed to serve alcohol during their opening hours, as mentioned above.

Texas's alcohol laws, sometimes called ABC or liquor laws, are complicated due to their long history, multi-level regulation, and the complex industries they deal with. The state first passed “Blue Laws” (alcohol bans) in 1935, just two years after the end of federal Prohibition. Over time, these laws have evolved based on the needs and preferences of Texans, leading to a complex set of regulations.

Alcohol sales at live events

Sports venues

Sports venues that host live sporting events are permitted to sell alcoholic beverages from 10 a.m. to noon on Sundays, in addition to their regular hours of operation.

Festivals, fairs, or concerts

Venues hosting festivals, fairs, or concerts can sell alcoholic beverages from 10 a.m. to noon on Sundays, in addition to their standard hours. These venues cater to people of all ages and must follow strict restrictions on alcohol sales.

Bars and restaurants

These establishments can serve alcohol from 7 a.m. to midnight, Monday to Friday. On Saturdays, they can sell from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Sunday morning. On Sundays, they can serve alcohol from 10 a.m. to noon if paired with food. If food is not included, alcohol-only sales begin at noon and continue until midnight. Certain bars and restaurants with a "'late hours' permit" can serve until 2 a.m. any day of the week.

Supermarkets or grocery stores

Supermarkets and grocery stores with an off-premises beer/wine permit can sell alcohol from 7 a.m. to midnight, Monday to Friday. On Saturdays, they can sell from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Sunday morning. On Sundays, alcohol sales are permitted from 10 a.m. to midnight.

Liquor stores

Liquor stores, also known as package stores, are licensed to sell alcohol from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday to Saturday. They are closed on Sundays, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. If one of these holidays falls on a Sunday, they remain closed on the following Monday.

Wineries

Wineries can serve alcohol from 8 a.m. to midnight, Monday to Saturday. On Sundays, their hours are from 10 a.m. to midnight.

It is important to note that Texas has established statewide alcohol laws, but individual counties and cities may have additional regulations. Texas has 59 wet counties and four dry counties, and local option elections can be conducted to make amendments to these rules. Checking the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission website or local regulations is recommended to stay updated on any changes or exceptions to these alcohol sales times for live events.

Alcohol laws in Texas

Texas has complex liquor laws, and the state's first Blue Laws (alcohol ban) was passed in 1935, two years after the end of federal Prohibition. The sale of alcohol is subject to voter approval at the county, precinct, or city-wide level. There are four "dry" counties where alcohol sales are illegal, many "wet" counties where all sales are legal, and 195 "moist" counties, which are a mix of wet and dry areas.

On-Premises Sales

On-premises sales, such as at bars or restaurants, are permitted:

• Monday to Friday: 7 a.m. to midnight
• Saturday: 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. (Sunday morning)
• Sunday: noon to midnight (10 a.m. to noon only with food)

Bars and restaurants with a "late hours" permit can serve alcohol until 2 a.m. any night of the week. Hotel bars can serve alcohol to registered guests at any time.

Off-Premises Sales

Off-premises sales, such as at convenience and grocery stores, are permitted:

• Monday to Friday: 7 a.m. to midnight
• Saturday: 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. (Sunday morning)
• Sunday: 10 a.m. to midnight

Liquor Stores

Liquor stores are subject to different hours and are closed on Sundays and certain holidays:

• Monday to Saturday: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Closed on Sundays, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day

Minimum Age Requirements

In Texas, the legal drinking age is 21. However, minors are allowed to consume alcohol in the presence of their adult parent, guardian, or spouse. Texas law holds parents and adults civilly liable for damages caused by the intoxication of minors younger than 17 if they knowingly provided alcohol or allowed it to be served on their property.

Frequently asked questions