Raise a glass: Texas drinks-to-go rules make a bit more sense, thanks to this change
We could all use some good news. Especially if it coincides with common sense.
And for it to come from the byzantine world of Texas’ alcohol regulations makes it all the more enjoyable.
Soon after Gov. Greg Abbott ordered bars to close again in hopes of stemming the resurgent coronavirus, the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission relented on letting restaurants sell mixed drinks to go. Before, the state required a shell game in which the establishment could provide a mixer and a travel-size bottle and let the customer finish the job at home.
The new arrangement is much better. It allows for a wider range of drinks, lets adults make their own choices and will restore a key profit point for many restaurants. And like many other changes undertaken as we adapt to the pandemic, it might point the way to more sensible laws and regulations for the Legislature to consider next year.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREHey, who writes these editorials?
Editorials are the positions of the Editorial Board, which serves as the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s institutional voice. The members of the board are: Cynthia M. Allen, columnist; Steve Coffman, editor and president; Bud Kennedy, columnist; Ryan J. Rusak, opinion editor; and Nicole Russell, editorial writer and columnist. Most editorials are written by Rusak or Russell. Editorials are unsigned because they represent the board’s consensus positions, not the views of individual writers.
Read more by clicking the arrow in the upper right.
How are topics and positions chosen?
The Editorial Board meets regularly to discuss issues in the news and what points should be made in editorials. We strive to build a consensus to produce the strongest editorials possible, but when we differ, we put matters to a vote.
The board aims to be consistent with stances it has taken in the past but usually engages in a fresh discussion based on new developments and different perspectives.
We focus on local and state news, though we will also weigh in on national issues with an eye toward their impact on Texas or the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
How are these different from news articles or signed columns?
News reporters strive to keep their opinions out of what they write. They have no input on the Editorial Board’s stances. The board consults their reporting and expertise but does its own research for editorials.
Signed columns by writers such as Allen, Kennedy and Rusak contain the writer’s personal opinions.
How can I respond to an editorial, suggest a topic or ask a question?
We invite readers to write letters to be considered for publication. The preferred method is an email to letters@star-telegram.com. To suggest a topic or ask a question, please email Rusak directly at rrusak@star-telegram.com.
Under the alcoholic beverage commission’s new rules, restaurants already permitted to sell mixed drinks can package them with any food order, including those delivered by third-party services. They must be sealed and, essentially, carried in the trunk. There’s no limit to how much can be ordered. Beer and wine can be sold to-go, too, as long as they’re sealed in their original packages.
(In the service of your pocketbook, we’d like to note how easy margaritas in particular are to make. For the cost of a few $14 margaritas-to-go, you could easily have the ingredients and tools for many more, from a respectable tequila to a functional cocktail shaker. But whatever works for you.)
Some bar owners have noted a dash of unfairness in the whole thing. Though many sell food and booze, there’s a bright line dividing bars and restaurants — if 51 percent or more of sales derive from alcohol, it’s a bar. Those establishments are closed while, an owner aiming to sue Abbott notes, restaurants can serve
Bars, though, are clearly more problematic for spreading COVID-19. They’re crowded, in spite of occupancy restrictions. Loud places mean shouting, and shouting means more spread of respiratory droplets. And while some restaurants have shielded tables, bar patrons proved unwilling to follow social-distancing guidelines.
The new flexibility on mixed drinks may help some restaurants survive, especially if capacity limits have to be stricter to try to dampen the pandemic. That should serve as an important lesson for lawmakers trying to jump-start the economy next year.
To ensure the availability of medical care and supplies and ensure the flow of needed goods, Abbott suspended a slew of regulations when the pandemic started. The emergency won’t last forever, though, and the Legislature needs to thoroughly examine what worked and what didn’t. Several industries were affected, and licensing procedures in particular could be ripe for reform.
In the alcohol business, lobbyists will be working hard to ensure their liquor store and distributor clients are protected. Progress was made last year on allowing breweries to sell directly to the public, there’s still room to make the process friendlier for consumers.
Lawmakers need to look soberly at this rare opportunity to have fewer economy-stifling regulations on the books. If they don’t, we’ll all need to have a stiff drink or two delivered.