In a video posted on social media on Wednesday Governor Abbott signed House Bill 1024 making Alcohol To-Go a State law. It allows restaurants with a mixed beverage permit and a food and beverage certificate from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission to be able to sell beer, wine, and cocktails with food orders that are purchased for pickup or delivery.
The legislation was designed after a COVID waiver put in place by the Governor during the pandemic lockdown, to help struggling restaurants develop a new revenue stream. As an emergency item Abbott even called on lawmakers make the waiver permanent in his State of the State Address. “It turned out that Texans liked it so much that the Texas Legislature wanted to make that permanent law in the State of Texas,” Abbott said on the bill signing video.
State Representative Charlie Geren, the owner of Railhead Smokehouse in Fort Worth authored the bill. While rolling out the legislation on the floor of the Texas House back in March he sang the praises of the Governor’s COVID action. “The waiver was an immediate success and helped thousands of restaurants recoup lost revenue and retain employees.” The House passed the bill 144-to-1.
State Senator Kelly Hancock sponsored the House bill. Prior to its passing unanimously in the Senate Hancock spoke of its economic impact. “Unfortunately, what we’ve seen during the pandemic is approximately 15% of our restaurants have not made it, but I can assure you that without this provision that number would have been greater.”
The law takes effect immediately.