Bottoms Up! Alcohol To-Go Is Permanently Legal In Texas Now
Great news for fans of alcohol to-go in the Lone Star state, Governor Abbott has made it permanent. So go get those margs to go.
Back in March when the pandemic brought the American economy to a screeching halt, many states began trying to find ways to help local businesses stay afloat. Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a waiver allowing restaurants and bars to offer alcoholic beverages to go with food orders.
The decision was a huge success in the state, and many businesses applauded the decision and wanted it to become permanent. In January, Governor Abbott announced he would move forward in making the alcohol to-go waiver permanent for the state.
This week, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed House Bill 1024 that allows restaurants and bars with mixed-beverage permits and on-site kitchens to sell alcohol with pick-up and delivery orders, per Eater. The bill was overwhelmingly supported in the state as a measure that will continue to help the Texas economy. The Texas House of Representatives approved the legislation 144-1 and the Texas Senate approved by a vote of 30-1 per the Texas Tribune.
This is great news for bars and restaurants that struggled and have continued to struggle during the pandemic. Texas isn't the first state to make alcohol to-go legal. Iowa, Kentucky, Ohio, Montana, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Georgia, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and the District of Columbia have all already made alcohol to-go legal making Texas the 10th state to do so per Distilled Spirirts.