Texas Governor Wants To-Go Alcohol To Stay Permanently

TOPLINE

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has once again said that he would like to see to-go alcohol sales permanently legalized in the nation’s second-largest state, and a state legislator has now signed on to file a bill aimed at doing so, as pushes are underway throughout the U.S. to make sure the popular coronavirus accommodation sticks around.

KEY FACTS

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

That’s certainly the case in Ohio, where the state’s House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a bill earlier this month aimed at making alcohol to-go permanent by a margin of 84-8. A New York state senator has also said he will introduce a bill to continue allowing alcohol to-go—which has become extremely popular in New York City—for at least another two years.

KEY BACKGROUND

Abbott had said in a tweet in April that “From what I hear from Texans, we may just let this keep on going forever,” referencing to-go alcohol sales. 

Even as bars have been allowed to reopen and restaurants can now operate at 75% capacity, Abbott has allowed to-go alcohol to stay around, and restaurants in the state now seem fully onboard with the effort of making to-go drinks permanent. The Texas Restaurant Association sent a letter to Abbott Thursday asking the governor to continue allowing to-go alcohol sales in Texas.

TANGENT

Just being able to take a drink to-go doesn’t mean it’s legal to start sipping while walking down the street. Allowing that would require changing open container laws, which exist almost everywhere in the U.S.

FURTHER READING

Pandemic’s Boozy Legacy: To-Go Alcohol Could Stick Around In New York, Texas (Forbes)

Ohio House passes bill to make to-go alcohol sales permanent (WBNS-TV)