Posted on: July 22, 2022
Texas Alcohol Laws: Can You Buy Beer On Easter?
Can You Buy Liquor On Easter in Texas?
There's no law that specifically says you can't buy liquor on Easter, but liquor sales are prohibited under Sunday Texas alcohol laws. Easter always falls on a Sunday, so the ban applies.
Liquor sales are also prohibited on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. If Christmas or New Year's falls on a Sunday, then liquor sales are prohibited on the following Monday.
Can You Buy Beer On Easter in Texas?
Texas beer laws don't have holiday exceptions, so regular Sunday hours apply on Easter.
What Time Do They Stop Selling Beer In Texas?
Texas beer laws say that grocery stores can sell beer (and wine) until midnight every day of the week except Saturday when sales are extended until 1 am.
What Time Do Liquor Stores Close In Texas?
Texas requires liquor stores to close at 9 pm Monday through Saturday. They open at 10 am.
Texas liquor laws require stores to be closed on Sunday.
What Time Do Bars Serve Alcohol in Texas?
The hours of sale for restaurants, bars, and other establishments with on-premises permits apply to beer, wine, liquor, and mixed drinks alike.
Bars can serve alcohol with or without food from 7 am to midnight Monday through Friday and 7 am to 1 am on Saturday, and noon to midnight on Sunday. With an extra late-night sales permit, businesses can serve until 2 am every night of the week but this is only allowed in certain jurisdictions.
As of 2021, restaurants and bars can start serving alcohol at 10 am on Sundays, but only with food.
None of these rules apply to registered guests at hotel bars. In those circumstances, Texas alcohol laws allow you to serve 24/7.
How Many Dry Counties are in Texas?
Texas alcohol laws only apply to jurisdictions that allow alcohol sales at all. Voter approval is required at the county, county precinct, and city levels. The law requires voters to make three separate decisions: whether to permit on-premises alcohol sales, liquor store sales, and off-premises beer/wine sales.
Only 5 of Texas's 254 counties are completely "dry," meaning all alcohol sales are prohibited. There are 55 "wet" counties, where all types of alcohol sales are allowed.
Most of Texas's counties are "moist." Sometimes that means that the county is a mix of wet and dry jurisdictions. Sometimes it means the county allows some sales types and prohibits others. Sometimes it means some combination of the two.
What is the Drinking Age in Texas?
Like all states, the drinking age in Texas is 21.
However, minors may consume alcohol in the presence of a "consenting and supervising" parent, guardian, or spouse. You may not provide any non-family member under 21 with alcohol, even on your own property or with parental permission.
At What Age Can You Sell/Serve Alcohol in Texas?
Texas alcohol laws allow you to tend bar or serve beverages starting at the age of 18.
For off-premises beer and wine sales in grocery and convenience stores, you can be as young as 16 with special certification from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC).
You must be 21 to work in a liquor store.
Are Clerks and Servers Responsible for Drunk Patrons in Texas?
Under Texas alcohol laws, licensed establishments and their employees can be held liable for civil damages if a patron causes a car accident or wrongful death.
The injured party has to prove the establishment's liability, though. A business can be held liable within two years if:
- The patron was a minor,
- The establishment overserved alcohol
- It was clear to the establishment that the patron was already intoxicated to the point that they could cause harm to themselves or others, and
- The patron's intoxication was the primary and foreseeable cause of the victim's injuries
You can be held responsible for medical bills, lost wages or earning capacity, lost or damaged property, and damages for pain and suffering.
How Do Clerks and Servers Keep Texas Alcohol Laws Straight?
Completing a course like online TIPS training can help you avoid legal trouble by teaching you how to recognize underage and intoxicated patrons, refuse service, and prevent sales that will trigger liability.
It's a good idea to complete one of these courses for your own protection, whether your employer requires it or not. However, many Texas employers require responsible vendor training because TABC will reduce penalties for employers that meet certain training requirements.
TIPS is a TABC-approved vendor for responsible alcohol training. Our courses are online, self-paced, and convenient. Enroll today to get started!