How Distance Is Measured for TABC Permit Purposes
Knowing that a 300-foot rule exists is only half the picture; the other half is how that 300 feet is actually measured. The answer is not…
Texas TABC reference
Texas Tabc Guide
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99 entriesThe Rules Against Serving Visibly Intoxicated Persons in Texas
Refusing to serve a customer who has had too much is not just good judgment in Texas; it is the law. Selling or serving alcohol to…
What L-Cert Certification Is and Why It Stalls TABC Applications
Ask anyone who has been through the TABC licensing process what took the longest, and the answer is often the same: getting the certifications signed. Those…
TABC Seller-Server Certification: Who Needs It and What It Covers
If you sell or serve alcohol in Texas, there is a good chance you should hold a TABC seller-server certification, and the same is true for…
How TABC and DSHS Divide Authority Over Hemp Products
When it comes to consumable hemp products in Texas, more than one state agency is involved, which surprises businesses that assume a single regulator handles everything.…
Change of Ownership: When a New TABC Permit Is Required
Ownership of a business rarely stays frozen. Partners come and go, investors buy in, family members inherit stakes, and entire businesses change hands. For a business…
TABC Fines, Suspensions, and Cancellations: How Penalties Escalate
TABC enforcement is not a single hammer; it is a ladder of consequences that climbs with the seriousness of the conduct and the history behind it.…
Written Alcohol Policies: What an Employer Should Document
Training staff to serve alcohol responsibly is essential, but training alone is not enough. Texas effectively rewards employers who put their responsible-service expectations in writing, because…
What Restaurants Should Know About Alcohol Sales and the 51% Rule
For a Texas restaurant, alcohol can be an important part of the experience and the revenue, but selling it well means navigating a set of choices…
How to Verify Whether a Location Is Wet for a Specific Permit Type
Before signing a lease or committing to a build-out, anyone planning to sell alcohol in Texas should answer one question first: is this exact location wet…
What Happens When a Business Receives a TABC Violation
For a Texas alcohol business, getting cited for a violation can feel alarming, but the process that follows is structured and predictable. A violation does not…
The Elements a Dram Shop Claim Must Prove in Texas
Knowing that a bar can be sued under dram shop law is one thing; understanding what a claimant actually has to prove is another. Texas dram…
Temporary and Event Alcohol Permits in Texas: When You Need One
Festivals, fundraisers, beer gardens at a one-day fair, a charity gala with a wine auction: serving alcohol at a temporary event in Texas almost always requires…
How a Tied House Violation Can Permanently Block a Business
Most compliance mistakes in the alcohol industry are fixable: pay a fine, correct a record, serve a suspension. A tied-house violation is different and more dangerous,…
What a Conduct Surety Bond Is and When TABC Requires One
Among the requirements that surprise new alcohol-business owners in Texas is the conduct surety bond. It is not a tax, not insurance in the usual sense,…
Protesting a TABC Permit: How Neighbors and Competitors Object
Not everyone welcomes a new alcohol business, and Texas law gives certain people a formal way to object to an application through a protest. For an…
How to Prepare Records for a Mixed Beverage Tax Audit
A mixed beverage tax audit is, at its heart, a test of records. The business that can document what it bought, what it sold, and how…
How the Safe Harbor Defense Protects Alcohol Sellers
Dram shop liability can be a frightening prospect for a business that serves alcohol, but Texas law offers a meaningful shield: the safe harbor defense. Properly…
What a TABC Inspection Looks For and How One Is Conducted
A TABC inspection can happen with little warning, and for good reason: the right to inspect is one of the conditions of holding an alcohol license…
How a TABC Violation Record Affects Future License Applications
A TABC violation does not end when the penalty is paid. It leaves a mark on the business's record, and that record can follow a business…
The Food and Beverage Certificate (FB) and What It Adds to a Permit
The Food and Beverage Certificate, almost always called the FB, is one of the most consequential add-ons in Texas alcohol licensing, and it is widely misunderstood.…
Administrative Hearings vs. Court Cases in TABC Disputes
When a TABC dispute gets serious, it can move through two very different kinds of forums: an administrative hearing and, later, a court case. People often…
What Documents and Information a TABC License Application Requires
A TABC application is only as strong as the paperwork behind it. Texas asks for a specific set of documents and disclosures, and a file that…
How Appeals Work After a TABC Hearing Decision
A business that loses at the administrative level is not necessarily out of options, but the path forward is narrow and governed by strict procedure. Appealing…