The ability to serve alcohol in Texas is a privilege, so every alcohol retailer must obtain the appropriate Texas liquor license. The problem is that there are city, county, state and federal licenses and permits, and you may not know which ones you need.

This entire process will be much easier for you if you do not try to take care of this yourself. A Houston liquor license service will take you by the hand from the beginning and remain with you until the process is completed. This type of business will ensure that you perform every step correctly so that this course of action takes the least amount of time possible. This service can also help you renew your Houston liquor license, so your business will always be in compliance with the law.

The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission

Alcohol retailers suffer serious consequences when an intoxicated patron or minor injures them self or others after leaving the establishment’s premises. The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) wanted to reduce the chances that these unfortunate incidents would occur, so they created the “TABC Manager’s Awareness Program.” This program is meant to be a roadmap that helps managers voluntarily comply with the “Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code.”

The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code

Under the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code, servers and sellers are required to refuse to serve alcoholic beverages to obviously intoxicated adults and anyone under the age of 21. The code also requires servers and sellers to take things a step further. They must keep a minor from drinking while on the premises, and they must also keep patrons from consuming alcoholic beverages until they are intoxicated. If they are already drunk, the wait staff must stop serving these customers.

Failure to Comply with the Code

Those who fail to follow the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code’s rules will suffer criminal penalties. A sale to a minor can possibly result in some or all of the following:

• Being charged with a class A misdemeanor
• Receiving a fine as high as $4,000
• Receiving a jail sentence of no longer than one year

A sale to an intoxicated customer may result in some or all of the following:

• Being charged with a misdemeanor
• Receiving a fine between $100 and $500
• Receiving a jail sentence of no longer than one year

A retailer who sells alcohol to a minor or someone who is inebriated will also receive administrative penalties that include a fine and the possibility of losing their sales permit.

The Manager’s Awareness Program

The two-hour Manager’s Awareness Program was designed to instruct managers on how to teach their employees to promote responsible alcohol sales. For example, managers learn about the laws related to serving alcohol to minors and intoxicated adults. They find out how they can be found liable for the injuries that these people cause once they have left the retail establishment. They also discover how to determine when an ID is fake or altered.

The Responsibilities of a Manger

A manager has many responsibilities, and the Manager’s Awareness Program illuminates each one so that retailers that sell alcohol can remain on the right side of the law. For example, managers are required to do the following:

• Ensure that employees are following the rules and regulations
• Provide continuous education for servers about responsible alcohol sales
• Create responsible policies and procedures for the service of alcoholic beverages
• Teach employees how to intervene with inebriated customers
• Assure employees that if they refuse to sell alcohol to a patron, they will never be disciplined for this action
• Ensure that everyone knows the rules for checking IDs

After attending the Manager’s Awareness Program, each individual manager will be able to create policies and guidelines for their businesses that will fit their specific needs.

Restaurants, bars and other retail businesses that serve or sell alcoholic beverages in the state of Texas are required to adhere to the regulations and guidelines set forth by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC). These rules are intended to protect the welfare of customers and to ensure improved public safety for all residents. Companies that require a Texas liquor license to conduct their business operations must maintain compliance with all state regulations regarding the distribution and sale of alcohol to adults and to minors. Understanding the applicable rules and recommended best practices can ensure that dining and drinking establishments remain in compliance with these regulations and can obtain/retain their Texas alcoholic beverage license.

Responsible Practices

Texas bartenders and wait staff are required to maintain responsible practices and to exercise good judgment when serving alcohol to their customers:

• Serving alcoholic beverages to minors is strictly prohibited and can result in a one-year jail term, a $4,000 fine or both. When the age of the customer is in question, servers and bartenders are required to obtain positive verification that the individual is over 21 years of age before he or she is served alcoholic beverages. Training programs are available to help wait staff identify likely underage drinkers and to spot the signs of alcohol use in patrons of the drinking establishment. Promotional activities and campaigns should be carefully constructed to avoid targeting underage individuals.
• Marketing campaigns designed to promote overindulgence in alcoholic beverages may also be violations of TABC regulations. Specifically, campaigns that promote irresponsible drinking practices or that encourage drinking to the point of intoxication are prohibited. These include two-for-one promotions, coupons and incentives for purchasing alcohol but do not include reduced prices and discounts on single drinks or individual containers of alcoholic beverages. Texas law holds bars, taverns and other retail establishments responsible for alcohol consumption that occurs on their premises.
• Bartenders and servers are required to monitor the alcohol consumption of their customers and to take steps to cut off patrons who have overindulged or who may overindulge if allowed to continue drinking. Similarly, customers are limited to two or fewer drinks at any given time. Groups may be served pitchers, bottles or larger containers of alcoholic beverages to share. Servers must exercise care, however, to ensure that guests do not consume too much in these situations. Additionally, liquor served to customers in open containers cannot be saved for resale or given to customers to take home; it must instead be destroyed by the retail establishment.
• Retailers, servers and bartenders are subject to charges of criminal negligence if they knowingly serve alcoholic beverages to individuals who are classed as insane or as habitual drunkards. First offenses are classed as misdemeanors and are subject to fines of between $100 and $500 and jail time of one year or less. Repeated offenses can result in fines of up to $1,000 and as much as one year in jail.
• The display of lewd, immoral or indecent pictures on cards, calendars, posters and other printed materials is prohibited in establishments that currently hold or are applying for a Texas beer license.
• Falsifying a sworn application for a Texas liquor license is punishable by prison terms of two to 10 years.

The TABC offers a great deal of informational material for retail establishments interested in applying for licensing to serve alcoholic beverages in Texas. By familiarizing themselves with the regulations and provisions of Texas liquor laws, owners of these retail companies can significantly increase their chances of success in obtaining the necessary permits and licenses to carry out their business plans.

Restaurant managers, bar owners and retail outlets can often benefit by seeking the assistance of a professional and experienced firm in navigating the application process and obtaining a Texas alcoholic beverage license. By working with these experts, retailers can avoid unexpected obstacles and can achieve their goals more quickly and effectively in the current regulatory environment.

Serving alcohol at your Houston restaurant has a lot of advantages. Not only can it add to a fun atmosphere and provide your client base with what it wants, but it can also make you a lot of money. On the flip side, serving alcoholic beverages comes with its own set of responsibilities, and failing to serve alcohol responsibly could result in fines, the loss of your Texas beer license, lawsuits and more. Fortunately, following a few tips can help ensure that the fun goes on for everyone who is involved without any major problems popping up.

Follow the Law

First of all, you should make sure to know all of the laws in your area in regards to holding an alcoholic beverage license. Do your research, and make sure that you obtain your license through a reputable company that offers license services. Also, make sure that you periodically do your research to stay abreast of current Texas alcohol laws after you have initially gotten your license. Along with understanding the laws that you are expected to follow as a business owner who serves alcohol within your restaurant, it is also important to learn the laws that your patrons are expected to uphold.

Check IDs

The first and most crucial aspect of serving alcohol responsibly is learning how to check IDs. No matter how convincing a customer might seem, you should check the identification card of anyone who looks younger than 30 years old unless you know for a fact that the person is old enough to consume alcohol.

When checking IDs, make sure that you always keep an eye out for fakes. The ID card should have all of the state seals and holograms on it, and you should check carefully for any alterations or modifications.

Along with making sure that the ID is valid, you should also ensure that the ID actually belongs to the person who is carrying it. Make sure to compare the picture to the face of the customer, and look for a valid signature and date of birth.

One option is to invest in an electronic scanner that checks ID cards. Although these can be a bit costly, they are often worth the cost and can save a lot of headaches.

Maintain Responsible Serving Practices

Remember responsible serving practices at all times, and make sure that your employees are trained in them as well. If someone seems too intoxicated, do not be afraid to cut them off; also, make sure to log your refusals for future reference. It is also a good idea to offer inebriated customers a few glasses of water or a food menu. If someone seems to be getting too intoxicated too quickly, you should consider a “resting period” before serving more drinks, and it is best to err on the side of caution when gauging a customer’s condition.

Do Not Be Afraid to Refuse

As a restaurant owner, you have the right to refuse to serve alcohol to anyone for any reason. If you think that the person’s ID might not be legitimate or if you think someone has had too much to drink, you should not be afraid to say no. Instead, offer water or other non-alcoholic beverages, and invite the customer to order from your menu. If the person becomes hostile, it might be a good time to ask him or her to leave.

Although all of the responsibilities of serving alcohol responsibly might not be fun, it is essential to be careful. By doing so, you can help protect your business and ensure that those who are old enough and who drink responsibly are able to have a good time at your place of business.