Texas Alcohol laws (Houston, Austin, Lubbock: apartment complex, school, living)

[TexasHorseLady]

I live outside of Jarrell. The Bell County line is just a tiny bit up the road, and Salado (in Bell County and a tourist destination) is a few minutes away. I had it pointed out to me when we moved to the area that Jarrell, at that time a few hundred people, had more places to buy alcohol than towns several times its size - because those wanting wine (or something stronger) with their dinner would drive to Jarrell to pick it up as the closest location.

[texdav]

I see alot of small towns that frankly look like tehy have more bars than businesses. I thnik taht allowing the voters to decide is the best issue and alot better than politicans. Many people in small towns don't want the problems involved with acohol and will give up the so called revenues for that reason it seems.I would bet if you ask any plice officer he will tell you the many problems that alcohol causes in a town or city he sees everyday.I don't know anyone opersonally that wants to live near a liqiour store or bar really. IMO giving voters a chocie is a good thing and alot better than leaving it to some revenuing thinking politican'

[getmeoutofhere]

I think it's ridiculous that you might have to travel far away from your home to buy a bottle of booze.

It's 2008, almost 2009. Can we please get rid of these idiotic Blue Laws and simply make it legal to buy liquor, beer, and wine anywhere as long as you are 21?

I wonder, since they are religion-based laws, if I can sue for religious discrimination?

[apocatastasis]

I just wanted to chime in that if you try to buy alcohol in Texas (or try to get into some bars) and you have an out-of-state license, you could be in for a hassle. I still have my Louisiana DL because I'm a grad student from New Orleans, and about half the time I try to buy something, it's a pain in the ass. I get looked at like some kind of alien... "OMG, we gots us hurr uh alien from some far-flung planet called, um, 'Louisiana.'" You shouldn't have to go down to the DMV for a new DL or ID card, but there's some kind of Texas law about fake IDs and the store being protected from being fined if a fake ID is a Texas one as opposed to an out-of-state one. Some bars also will not even let you in if you have an out-of-state ID.

The TABC here is about as Gestapo as you can get, IMHO. I think it was in 2006 that they went around the bars here in Austin and basically started arresting people who might, possibly, could have been, maybe drunk, a little. Talk too loud or trip over your ill-fitting shoes? Paddy wagon for you.

Coming from NOLA, where you can buy whatever, whenever, wherever, and put it in a plastic cup and legally drink anywhere you want except in a moving vehicle (and actually we do that too...drive-through daiquiris), Texas' alcohol laws are preposterous. I have to say that between the alcohol laws and the bars' mandated closing at 2, I have never seen such irresponsible alcohol-related behavior as I have in Houston and Austin.

[tstone]

Originally Posted by getmeoutofhere

I wonder, since they are religion-based laws, if I can sue for religious discrimination?

The best you can do is simply live in a locale that doesn't have these laws. If an area (or a good portion of a giant state) wants to be ass-backwards, just let it be.

Another thing with many dry areas is this: The statue states that if you're in a dry area and have in your possession more than a 24 pk of beer, a few bottles of wine, or a 5th of liquor, you can be arrested for "bootlegging," intent to distribute. Comedian Chris Rock said it best -- bootlegging is basically an old white word that means drug dealing. Punishment can be up to 6 months+$2000. I wonder if this is really enforced in these regions though???

[atxcio]

Originally Posted by Humanoid

If anybody that drinks is just driving to other communities to purchase alcohol want exactly is the point of having a dry county/city? Doesn't it reduce tax revenue to the county/city?

Despite what others may say, it has less to do with religious roots and more to do with politics. Similar to gambling, for decades in certain areas of Texas (mostly around DFW, N/NE Texas) there have been "dry" and "wet" areas -- and the "wet" areas often have economies that revolve around the fact that they are the only place to buy booze. In the interest of protecting their revenue, you'll see religious/conservative anti-alcohol groups popping up when election time comes in neighboring counties... even where they didn't exist before ... it's kinda fascinating, actually, if you are into politics.

Bottom line, though, it's mostly a phenomena you'll see around DFW and N/NE Texas. Austin, San Antonio, Houston, West Texas, the Valley, etc... are all pretty much "wet" but with Texas' standard laws -- Stores that sell liquor must close at 9pm and all day Sunday. Stores that sell Beer/Wine have to stop selling from midnight-6am S-F and from 1am-12pm on Sunday. Bars stop selling at 2AM all days. Even these rules can be worked around with private clubs, byob clubs, or clubs where the alcohol is "given" away.

[stan4]

Live in DFW area:

A lot of places that are supposedly 'dry' are really 'moist.' You can buy beer and wine 7 days a week. Liquor you cannot buy on Sunday. I'm not actually sure if anywhere in DFW is truly 'dry.'

Liquor isn't usually far away (I live in a moist town, but the liquor store is just 10 minutes down the road), and the beer/wine selection at many grocery stores and bevarage centers is awesome.

[Winkelman]

Reminds me of a joke I heard once.

How many Southern Baptists do you invite fishing?

Two. If you invite one, they will drink all your beer, if you invite two they won't drink any.

[jeffari-al-texani]

Originally Posted by stan4

I'm not actually sure if anywhere in DFW is truly 'dry.'
.

Right here in Sunnyvale...the only alcohol you can purchase in this town is the rubbing alcohol and the mouthwash at CVS!!!

[wade_word]

Originally Posted by Winkelman

Reminds me of a joke I heard once.

How many Southern Baptists do you invite fishing?

Two. If you invite one, they will drink all your beer, if you invite two they won't drink any.

That's pretty much about right.