The state of Texas is inching closer and closer to greater consumer freedom in the areas of beer and wine sales, passing two important bills in the Texas House.
First on the list is a bill that extends beer and wine sales on Sundays. Under current Texas laws, beer and wine cannot be purchased from a licensed retailer until noon on Sundays. The bill that passed the House moves the starting time to 10 am. Second on the list is a bill that allows craft breweries to sell beer to go. Both of these measures were added to another bill- one that relates to the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, or TABC, and its efficiency.
HB 1545, known as the Sunset Bill, contains the two pieces of legislation mentioned above plus an important provision to keep the TABC operational. Authored by State Rep Chris Paddie, this bill keeps the TABC functional for another dozen years and, according to Paddie, is important for the proper regulation of adult beverages.
“The first thing the bill does is continue the TABC for 12 years recognizing the state has continued need for a strong regulator for the alcoholic beverage industry”, said Paddie.
The move to make it easier to purchase beer and wine on Sunday is sponsored by State Rep Drew Springer. He feels the proposed change is all about convenience and consumer choice and he also pointed out that other businesses are already allowed to sell at 10am.
“If you go into a Costco, a Sam’s, any grocery store at about 11:45 in the afternoon, you’re going to see nothing but angry constituents that don’t understand why they can’t get on with their day,” said Springer. “We allow country clubs to begin selling mimosas at 10 o’clock. On the golf course the beer cart, you can buy at 10 o’clock. This bill looks to bring those into the same align where you can have off-premise sales at 10 a.m. on Sundays,” He added.
Allowing beer to go sales at craft breweries has been debated for quite some time and now appears it could become law.
The Texas House overwhelmingly passed HB 1545 on Friday. The bill now goes to the Texas Senate.
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