Can you buy beer, wine or liquor on Sunday? Here’s what Texas law says
Liquor stores in Texas may be closed on Sunday, but that doesn’t mean it is dry.
State laws regulating the use of adult beverages have changed substantially over the past few years. There was a time when Sundays were dry in the Lone Star State.
Originally, Texas placed “blue laws” on 42 items in 1961, banning the sale of certain products on consecutive weekend days such as pots, pans, cars, washing machines and liquor. The law was repealed in 1985. But while kitchen tools can now be sold anytime during the week, liquor was still a no-no, according to The Dallas Morning News.
Liquor stores to this day are shuttered on Sundays, New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Sale of liquor is only allowed Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., according to the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.
With Gov. Greg Abbott’s signing of HB 1518 last year, the hours when beer and wine can be sold on Sunday have changed. You can even order the harder stuff in hotel bars and restaurant. Here is what you need to know:
Can you buy liquor on holidays?
Sunday isn’t the only time where liquor stores close down per state law, but a few holidays as well.
Liquor cannot be sold at Texas stores on Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year’s Day. If Christmas or New Years fall on a Sunday, then liquor stores are required to close on the following Monday.
When can you buy beer on Sunday?
Beer can be bought at grocery stores or other retailers starting at 10 a.m. on Sunday, and have until midnight to do so. Before HB 1518, consumers had to wait until noon on Sunday to purchase beer.
When can you buy wine on Sunday?
Wine can be bought at grocery stores or other retailers starting at 10 a.m. on Sunday, and have until midnight to do so. Before HB 1518, consumers had to wait until noon on Sunday to purchase wine.
A wine-only package (liquor) store that holds a beer license can not sell wine containing more than 17% alcohol by volume on Sunday. If the wine-only package store doe not hold a beer license, it must operate the same hours as a liquor store, which means it is closed on Sunday.
Wineries are allowed to operate from 10 a.m. to midnight on Sunday.
Can you buy liquor on Sunday?
Despite changes in Texas law on when beer and wine can be sold, liquor is still not allowed to be sold on Sunday at liquor stores.
But there are still a few ways to be served liquor on Sunday.
One of the changes with HB 1518 was allowing hotel bars to serve guests alcoholic beverages at any time of the day. The bar has to be located inside the hotel and hold the proper permit or license to do so.
A bar or restaurant not affiliated with a hotel is only allowed to sell alcoholic beverages from noon to midnight on Sunday, and from 10 a.m. to noon with purchase of food — thus making mimosas available for brunch.
If a festival, fair or concert has the right licenses and permits, they can sell alcoholic beverages between 10 a.m. and noon on Sunday.
What about alcohol to-go on Sunday?
The new law, HB 1024, also gave the green light for alcohol to-go sales.
Under the bill, establishments holding mixed beverage and private club permits can sell alcohol such as mixed drinks, wine, beer and malt beverages with food orders. This includes alcoholic beverages with food orders for either pick up or delivery, according to TABC. And like beer and wine sales, the orders cannot be made before 10 a.m. on Sunday.
This story was originally published August 9, 2022 at 5:57 AM.
