Texas Governor Greg Abbott is in full support of to-go alcohol to stay as a permanent fixture here in Texas; he tweeted over the weekend.
The support comes after restaurants across the state are pushing the state government to keep the option of a permanent fixture now that COVID-19 restrictions continue to be lifted.
The Texas Restaurant Association (TRA) announced in a letter on Thursday that it has submitted a proposal to Governor Greg Abbott’s office to expand the current waiver that allows customers to get alcoholic drinks when they order food in the drive-thru or at curbside.
“With the growth of third party delivery, TRA is supporting soon to be filed legislation that will allow restaurants with a mixed beverage permit the ability to deliver, or have delivered by a third party, alcoholic beverages from the permitted premises directly to the consumer,” TRA said on their website.
For more details on alcohol delivery and other TRA advocacy issues, CLICK HERE.
The current waiver is temporary and was put in place to help restaurants drum up business at the drive-thru and curbside when they were forced to shut down over the COVID-19 pandemic.
The proposed legislation allows the holder of a mixed beverage permit to deliver or be delivered by a third party; an alcoholic beverage from the permitted premises directly to the consumer (where the sale of the liquor is legal), if:
The delivery of the alcoholic beverage is made as part of the delivery of food prepared at the permitted premises; the alcoholic beverage is delivered in a sealed container, and the delivery is not made to, or premises that are permitted, licensed under this code; or a location where the possession or consumption of alcohol is prohibited by law.
Further adding, the alcoholic beverage may only be delivered to a person who is 21-years of age or older, staying within the legal requirements of purchase. The person accepting the delivery must present with a valid proof of identity and age and personally sign a receipt acknowledging the delivery.
This bill will not allow alcohol to be delivered to those areas of the state that are not wet for alcohol.
To read the TRA’s proposal for SB 1450, CLICK HERE.
PHOTO: CBSDFW
