Texas lawmakers want to end the ban on Sunday liquor sales
A couple of Texas lawmakers want to end the ban on Sunday liquor sales.
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Liquor stores to this day are closed on Sundays, New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. A couple of Texas lawmakers want to change that after recently filing bills to end the ban on some Sunday liquor sales, like vodka, tequila, and other spirits.
Texas State Sen. Kelly Hancock from (R-Fort Worth-District 9) introduced SB 1288, which he said will boost Texas businesses. It would allow grocery and convenience stores to sell ready-to-drink cocktails seven days a week. Texas Rep. Justin Holland from (R-Rockwall-District 33) filed a similar bill in the Texas House last month.
Currently, 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 the purchase of food, also known as brunch. However, grocery and convenience stores are permitted to sell beer and wine on Sundays.
The bills come after Texas has been loosening its restrictions on alcohol sales. Gov. Greg Abbott signed a law last year that allowed customers to buy beer and wine before noon. Before that, customers had to wait until the afternoon.
“As industries innovate and new products become staples in the marketplace, it only makes sense for us to take a look at ways government can reduce regulatory red tape,” Hancock said in a news release with Distilled Spirits Council of the United States. “I look forward to continuing to work on legislation that keeps free market principles at the core of Texas’ economic success.”
The 88th Legislature’s regular session opened on January 10 and runs until May 29.
