Texas Beer-To-Go Bill Moves Forward

Texas is the only state in the union where breweries can’t sell customers beer to-go, but with the recent passage of HB 672 that could change soon.

Here’s where things stand…

Last Thursday the Texas beer-to-go bill, which would allow breweries to legally sell take-home beers to customers, passed in the Texas House of Representatives and its passage was a nail-biter to the end.

At first the bill didn’t pass.  But after a recount it was determined that several votes which would have put that action to bed, didn’t count according to Austin Eater.

And that allowed State Representative Eddie Rodriguez (who backed the House version of the bill) to attach it another bill calling for the revamping the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.

We understand that a lot of this sounds like legislative gibberish…But the bottom line is the Texas beer-to-go bill is now going to the Senate for consideration.

While the bill’s passage in the Senate is far from a done deal, it’s an undeniable step forward and something that Texas’ craft brewers and beer lovers can toast.

And HB 672 might not have even gotten this far if it hadn’t been for a giant compromise struck in February between Texas Craft Brewers Guild and the Beer Alliance of Texas, a trade association who represent the state’s distributors and have reportedly “long opposed any changes to the law which they’d perceived as potentially cutting into their slice of profits.”

The agreement between the two lobbying organizations removed sticking points from a previous legislative effort and put limits on the amount of beer that consumers can purchase direct from the brewery in a given period.

This synopsis of the agreement from the Texas Brewers Guild’s Press Release…

Key Points of the SB 312/ HB 672 Agreement

• Retain the 5,000 barrel cap on taproom sales.
• Allow sales for off-premise consumption in amounts up to 576 fluid ounces per calendar day, per person.
• Any product offered for sale in the taproom which does not have an approved label must post in plain view the alcohol content of that product.
• The total amount of on and total amount of off-premise sales shall be reported (in barrels) to TABC on a monthly basis. The Commission shall hold the records for public review.

Last week’s passage of HB 672 doesn’t mean that the Texas beer-to-go bill will make it through the Senate unscathed.

But it is progress that could lead to a positive outcome for the state’ brewing community and its legions of fans.