Why are Texas liquor stores not open on Thanksgiving Day? Thank 20th-century law
There are three days a year when liquor stores can absolutely not be open in Texas.
Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day are the three holidays on which liquor stores must stay closed. If the holiday falls on a Sunday, then liquor stores must stay closed the following Monday in Texas.
This year, Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, Nov. 28, meaning that all liquor stores will be closed that day and will reopen again by 10 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 29.
Why can’t liquor stores be open on Thanksgiving in Texas?
Alcohol laws fall under “blue laws” in Texas. According to Varghese Summersett, a Texas law firm, blue laws “were originally designed to protect Sunday as a day of worship; these laws encouraged church attendance by limiting secular and commercial activities.”
Though these laws have changed much since their establishment in the late 20th century, Texas has upheld the restriction of selling liquor or automobiles on Sundays.
Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission also outlines specific times that alcohol can be purchased or sold.
Texas laws about buying alcohol
According to Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code section 105, liquor can only be purchased from a liquor store from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Liquor stores are never open on Sundays.
Beer and wine can be purchased at grocery or convenience stores from:
Mondays to Fridays: 7 a.m. to midnight
Saturdays: 7 a.m. until 1 a.m. on Sunday mornings.
Sundays: 10 a.m. to midnight.
If there is a wine-only package store with a beer license, they may not sell wine with an alcohol content of 17 percent or higher after 10 p.m. or on Sundays.
What Texas law says about serving alcohol
Certain businesses are still allowed to serve and sell alcoholic beverages on Sundays or holidays, according to the state’s alcoholic beverage code.
Bars or restaurants:
Monday to Friday: 7 a.m. until midnight.
Saturday: 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday morning.
Sunday: Noon to midnight (10 a.m. if you also order food).
Winery:
Monday to Saturday: 8 a.m. until midnight.
Sunday: 10 a.m. to midnight.
Hotel bars:
Alcohol can be served at any time of day.
Sports venues:
Monday to Friday: 7 a.m. until midnight.
Saturday: 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday morning.
Sunday: 10 a.m. to noon.
According to TABC, “if the establishment is in a city or county legal for late hours and they have a late-hours permit, they can sell alcohol for on-premise consumption until 2 a.m. any night of the week.”
Fort Worth allows the service of alcohol until 2 a.m. at establishments that have proper licensing.
This story was originally published November 25, 2024 at 2:16 PM.