A New Bill Has Been Introduced to Put an End to a Liquor Law in Texas That Prevents the Sale of Liquor on Sundays
Texas currently has this frankly ridiculous state law that you can’t buy liquor on Sunday. That is, liquor can’t be sold in stores on Sunday, so if you’re trying to throw a Sunday Funday party at home, you better stock up the day before. As everyone who lives here, and/or owns a liquor store, knows, the current liquor laws in Texas suck. But, thanks to one Texas representative, a bill to repeal the Sunday liquor sale ban was introduced this week.
House Bill 937 would put an end to the prohibition-era liquor law in Texas that prohibits stores from opening and selling spirits on Sundays. The law dates back to 1935 when the Texas Legislature passed the Texas Liquor Control Act to maintain portions of what the prohibition intended. Many of these “blue laws” were abolished in 1985, but a few remain, like the sale of liquor and, oddly, automobiles. Over 85 years later, and Texans are ready to put this liquor law to bed.
Alcohol-to-go sales can continue after May 1.
From what I hear from Texans, we may just let this keep on going forever.#txlege
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) April 29, 2020
After the pandemic forced businesses to shut their doors indefinitely, many bars, restaurants, and liquor stores started selling alcohol to-go through curbside pick-up and delivery methods. Governor Greg Abbott announced via Twitter that the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission will allow alcohol to-go sales to continue after restaurants and bars began the reopening process on May 1, 2020. His follow-up suggested a tone Texans could definitely get excited about: the possibility of looser laws on liquor in Texas.
This week, Texas Representative Richard Raymond did just that and introduced a bill during the 87th legislative session that would allow the sale of distilled spirits every day of the week, including Sunday. The bill, if passed, would permit liquor stores to remain open from 12 – 10 pm on Sundays and 9 am to 10 pm on weekdays, and according to an estimate by the council, would theoretically generate between $7.8 and $15.6 million in state tax revenue. Sounds like a no-brainer over here.