Alcohol To-Go One Step Closer To Being Permanent In Texas
There has been a lot of bad associated with the coronavirus pandemic. Bad decisions, bad rules, lost jobs, lost freedom, lost and sick family members. But there have been some ideas and decisions made due to the coronavirus that have actually been pretty good. Like curbside service almost everywhere and Texas allowing alcohol to-go from restaurants.
The Texas House on Wednesday gave initial approval to House Bill 1024 that, if passed once more by the Texas House, then passed in the Texas Senate and signed off on by the Governor, would allow beer, wine, and mixed drinks to be included in pickup and delivery food orders.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a waiver in March of 2020 allowing the struggling restaurant industry to sell drinks to go. The move was a hit with restaurants and patrons who wanted to support restaurants by having everything delivered.
My wife and I took advantage of this last year a few times but the first was during Cinco de Mayo and we wanted margaritas. We ordered from a local Mexican food restaurant and got some great food and fantastic margaritas.
According to the Texas Tribune House Bill 1024 was filed by Republican state Rep. Charlie Geren, who owns a restaurant in Fort Worth, but says he won't benefit since the restaurant lacks a mixed beverage permit.
HB 1024 was filed by Republican state Rep. Charlie Geren, a restaurant owner in Fort Worth, and co-authored by Democrats. Geren has said his restaurant would not benefit from the measure he is pushing because it lacks the mixed beverage permit the legislation requires of restaurants wanting to pursue to-go sales. His wife, Texas lobbyist Mindy Ellmer, has been paid for lobbying work by the Texas Restaurant Association, which is backing the legislation. Geren and Ellmer previously said they didn’t discuss her restaurant lobbying, and Ellmer said there was “no conflict” because Geren’s restaurant doesn’t have a mixed beverage permit.
Was House Bill 1024 the most pressing issue in this session? No. But it will help restaurants and the people of Texas like it. It's pro-business and common sense. What's not to like?
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