When serving alcohol in Texas, business owners must obtain a Texas alcoholic beverage license. Failing to do so could result in serious legal charges. There are several qualifications that need to be met to obtain a license.

How To Qualify

To qualify for a Houston alcoholic beverage license, an applicant must be at least 21 years of age. In addition to this, these criteria must be met:

• The applicant must not have any felony convictions within the past five years.
• The applicant must not have violated state liquor laws within the past two years.
• The applicant must not have any moral turpitude violations of liquor laws within the past six months.

For on-premise alcohol permits, business owners must provide verification from the city clerk that their business is in a zone where alcohol can be served and has late-hour operations. People who plan to serve only beer or wine will have to provide verification of alcohol content for their beverages. For off-premise permits, applicants must obtain verification forms and a list of approved areas from the city clerk. In addition to this, public notice must be published in a local newspaper. There are also other requirements for temporary permits for off-site events, which are usually granted to business owners who currently hold liquor licenses. Some types of events may not require licenses if they provide free alcohol to adults.

How To Apply

Most business owners who plan to serve alcohol on a daily basis apply for a license through the local sheriff’s department. There are over 20 different types of licenses available from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, so it is important to choose the right type. For example, a person who is looking for a Texas beer license just to sell beer at an event would not need the same type of permit a person serving cocktails in a restaurant would need. After obtaining the right forms, an applicant must fill out all of the information correctly. Mistakes will usually bring delays. Applications are taken to the Texas State Controller’s Office, and the information must also be turned in to the local City Secretary. Following this step, the TABC must be contacted to perform a background and eligibility check. An interview will be conducted, and the applicant will be notified when to appear before a judge for a hearing. If the application is approved by the judge, the applicant must pay the required taxes and wait for the TABC to issue a permit.

Many people mistakenly assume that obtaining a liquor license is a process that involves filing a few forms and paying a fee. The process is much more complex and much more serious, so it is important to make sure there are no mistakes made. Businesses planning to open are usually in a time crunch, and this can add even more stress to the preparations for a grand opening. The best way to get through the process without major hassles is to hire a Houston liquor license service company.

A Texas license service provider knows all of the local and state laws for obtaining all of the different types of licenses and permits offered by the TABC. The service provider knows what to write on the forms, where to file them and how to deliver efficient and effective results. Many people make the mistake of filling out the wrong types of forms when applying for licenses on their own, but a liquor license service will make sure the correct forms are used. Investing in a license service is well worth avoiding the headache of losing money, delaying and opening or canceling a special event while waiting on a license.

Corkage fees are assessed when diners bring their own alcoholic beverages into a restaurant or bar. These fees are designed to make up for lost revenues from wine sales and vary depending on the venue. The legality of corkage fees and bring-your-own-bottle practices depends on the type of Texas alcoholic beverage license held by the establishment. Understanding the rules and the etiquette involved in bringing your own bottle of wine into a Houston restaurant or bar can help you make the most of special evenings out with friends and family.

Navigating Texas Liquor Laws

The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) administers and enforces laws relating to the alcoholic beverage industry in the Lone Star State. The regulations governing corkage services are relatively complex:

• Patrons are not allowed to bring their own alcoholic beverages into Texas restaurants and bars that hold private club permits.
• The same restrictions apply to bars that maintain mixed beverage licenses allowing the sale of distilled spirits to customers.
• Establishments that do not serve distilled spirits or that do not maintain a license to serve alcohol, however, are legally allowed to provide corkage services to their guests.
• Corkage fees are legal in the bars and restaurants allowed to provide these services. Texas law does not place any restrictions on these fees.

Some restaurants and bars that are eligible to offer corkage services choose not to do so. Others may require the purchase of a bottle of wine or a relatively large corkage fee to recoup the perceived loss of revenues from expected wine sales. Before bringing your own bottle of wine or alcohol, it is a good idea to contact the establishment to determine the fees and policies associated with their corkage services.

Corkage Etiquette

While calling ahead to check on the availability and cost of corkage services is essential to avoid unpleasant surprises at the bar or restaurant, there are also a number of etiquette rules and procedures relating to corkage.

• Check the wine list of the restaurant before bringing your own bottle; it is considered a significant breach of manners to bring a wine that could be purchased on site.
• Do not forget to inquire about the number of bottles you are allowed to bring; some restaurants and drinking establishments set a strict limit of one or two bottles per visit.
• Bringing in a cheap bottle of wine to avoid paying list price at the restaurant is also a faux pas.
• For restaurants that do not charge corkage fees, purchasing a bottle of equivalent value is a nice gesture that can encourage this practice. In some cases, restaurants that do charge for corkage may waive these fees for patrons who purchase a comparable bottle from their wine list.
• Depending on the size of your party and the general atmosphere of the restaurant, offering your server a taste of the wine is also considered polite. This only applies, of course, if your server is old enough to imbibe legally.
• Calculate your tip based on the value of the wine bottle as well as the cost of other food and drinks. This can ensure that your wait staff are not shortchanged, especially in restaurants that charge minimal or no corkage fees.

A number of Houston restaurants offer free or very low cost corkage services for their customers. By checking around for the best deals, food and wine lovers can enjoy the best dining experience for their hard-earned money.

For restaurants and bars interested in offering corkage services, working with a company that specializes in Texas license services can provide added guidance on applicable rules and restrictions. Staying on the right side of the law can help these businesses maintain their TABC license while avoiding citations and fines for infractions of the Texas legal code.