In modern times, the term “Blue Law” is generally associated with a time and day restriction for the sale of alcohol. Every state in the union has such restrictions at the state or local level with the exception of Nevada.
The State of Texas regulates the legal hours beer, wine and liquor can be sold under the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code. See, i.e. Tex. Alco. Bev. Code § 105 et seq. Time and day restrictions vary depending on the type of TABC permit a business holds. Below is a list of common TABC permits and their respective hours of legal sale.
On-Premise Consumption TABC Permits
This section relates to TABC permit holders that are allowed to sell alcohol for consumption onsite (and in certain circumstances can also sell alcohol to go) such as bars and restaurants, and the legal hours those Texas businesses can sell alcohol.
Bars (MB, BG, N Permits) and Restaurants (MB+FB, BG+FB, N+FB, and RM Permits):
Standard Hours
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- Monday – Friday:
7 a.m. – midnight
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- Saturday:
7 a.m. – 1 a.m. (Sunday morning)
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- Sunday:
10 a.m. – Noon with service of food;
Noon – midnight.
Extended Hours (Requires a Subordinate TABC Late Hours or “LH” Permit)
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- Monday – Friday:
7 a.m. – 2 a.m.
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- Saturday:
7 a.m. – 2 a.m. (Sunday morning)
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- Sunday:
10 a.m. – Noon with service of food;
Noon – 2 a.m.
See Tex. Alco. Bev. Code §§ 105.03, 04. and .05
Off-Premise Consumption Permits
Texas Liquor Stores, or package stores (P Permits), are legally allowed to sell alcohol during the following hours:
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- Monday – Saturday:
10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Texas Liquor Stores are prohibited from selling alcohol on the following days of the year:
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- Closed:
- Sundays;
- Thanksgiving Day;
- Christmas Day (or following Monday if Christmas falls on a Sunday); and
- New Year’s Day (or following Monday if Christmas falls on a Sunday).
See Tex. Alco. Bev. Code § 105.01
Texas Beer and Wine Convenience Stores and Texas Grocery Stores (BQ, Q+BF Permits), are legally allowed to sell alcohol during the following times:
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- Monday – Friday:
7 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. for all beer and wine (including fortified wine containing more than 17% alcohol by volume such as sherry, port, madeira, marsala, vermouth, etc.).
10:00 p.m. – midnight for all beer, and non-fortified wine.
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- Saturday:
7 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. for all beer and wine.
10:00 p.m. – 1 a.m. (Sunday morning) for all beer, and non-fortified wine.
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- Sunday:
10 a.m. – midnight for all beer, and non-fortified wine.
Sale of fortified wine is prohibited on Sunday.
See Tex. Alco. Bev. Code §§ 105.04, .05 and 24.07
Any business that sells or serves alcohol during prohibited hours could face administrative disciplinary action ranging from suspension to cancellation of their liquor permit, see, Tex. Alco. Bev. Code § 11.61 (b)(23). Additionally, there are criminal consequences to the employee, see Tex. Alco. Bev. Code § 1.05, and Tex. Penal Code § 12.21 (Class A misdemeanor; up to 1 year in jail and $1,000 fine).
