After watching two separate pieces of 'Beer-to-Go' legislation die during the 86th Texas State Legislature, breweries in Austin are now celebrating a new chance of selling canned beer to-go on premises. The Texas State House of Representatives on April 26 voted to pass House Bill 1545, a piece of legislation that allows the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission to continue to operate with attached reforms. During discussion of the bill, two amendments were attached and approved. One, written by State Rep. Eddie Rodriguez, D-Austin, allows craft breweries to sell beer to-go at their sites. Currently, state law prohibits production breweries from selling six-packs or other forms of beer to-go sales to visitors. Several craft breweries in Austin have taken to social media to celebrate the legislation and urge customers to voice support for Beer-to-Go legislation.
The other amendment attached to HB 1545, written by Rep. Drew Springer, R-Muenster, allows beer and wine carriers to begin selling at 10 a.m. on Sundays. Existing laws prohibit retailers from selling beer and wine before noon on Sundays.