Beware: Weird Texas Law May Ruin Your Holidays
In case you haven't looked at the calendar, the holiday season is in full effect. Christmas is right around the corner. New Years is coming up. There's lots of fun times with family and friends on the horizon. However, if you're not prepared, the state of Texas may ruin some of your holiday festivities.
Texas Has Some Interesting Liquor Laws
If you've never looked at Texas' liquor laws, there's some real oddities in the state. They are VERY strict about where you can or can't sell liquor. They also have very strict rules about when liquor stores can open. According to the state's TACB (the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission), here's the rules for that:
Liquor store (also known as package store):
- Monday – Saturday: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
- Closed on Sunday, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
- If Christmas Day or New Year's Day falls on a Sunday, closed the following Monday.
In fact, these odd rules forced Liquor stores to be closed for 61 hours straight last year right smack dab in the middle of the holiday season.
Plan Ahead Texas and Avoid Issues
As stated above, Liquor stores in Texas can't open on Sundays. They also can't open on certain holidays including Christmas Day. This year, Christmas is on a Monday...so after 9 pm on the 23rd, package stores WILL BE CLOSED for 48 hours.
So, whether you need a bottle or two to share with your friends & family, brandy for cooking purposes or anything in between, you better buy it before the end of Christmas Eve or else you'll be without any Christmas Cheer for the holidays.
This Texas Liquor Law Also Impacts New Year's Day
As noted, this doesn't just impact Christmas. New Year's Day is on a Monday. Which means Liquor Stores in the state will be closed on both on New Year's Eve & New Year's Day - which traditionally is the most popular holiday celebration involving alcoholic beverages. So, two major holidays are coming up. And liquor stores in Texas will be closed 48 straight hours for both.