Here’s when can you buy beer in Texas under ‘blue laws’

There is nothing worse than getting ready for a party or get together only to realize that you’re running low on beer, wine, or liquor. Except for if you’re a resident of the great state of Texas and it happens to be a Sunday and its just a smidge too late or too early. 

Texas is one of 28 states that still maintains “blue laws,” that regulate entertainment of commercial activities on Sundays or religious holidays. The term “blue law” originates from laws by England enacted through the American colonies to “protect Christian Sabbath as mandated by the Fourth Commandment,” according to Cornell Law School. The laws vary state-by-state. 

Beer and wine can be purchased from grocery and convenience stores from 7 a.m. to midnights Monday through Friday, and from 7 a.m. on Saturday to 1 a.m. on Sunday morning. Liquor stores are authorized to sell from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. from Monday through Saturday. 

On Sundays, bars and restaurants with food and alcohol service are not allowed to serve alcohol until 10 a.m., with alcohol-only service barred from beginning until noon. A wine-only package store that holds a beer license may not sell wine containing more than 17% alcohol by volume on a Sunday or after 10 p.m. on any day, according to TABC. 

Wineries are legally allowed to serve alcohol from 8 a.m. to midnight on Monday through Saturday, and from 10 a.. to midnight on Sundays. 

Licensees and permittees may sell for an additional hour when the time changes at 2 a.m. in the Fall because the legal time is 1 a.m., according to TABC.

“When daylight saving time takes place in the spring, the legal time is 3:00 a.m. when the time changes,” TABC explains on the official website. “Technically, no one should be publicly consuming or selling alcoholic beverages at that time. TABC agents have traditionally given patrons the 15 minutes they have under the extended-hours definition to consume the rest of the drinks legally purchased before 2 a.m.”