TABC Articles

The life of a Texas alcohol permit

From the first application to an inspection, a citation, a hearing, a renewal or a sale: every guide below sits at the stage it is about. Start at the stage you are in.

25 guides on this page, across 7 stages

Stage 1 of 7

Applying

Choosing a permit and applying for it

  1. How Long Does a TABC License Application Really Take?

    TABC's own estimate is 30 to 35 days, but that clock starts only when TABC has a complete application. "It can take…

    4 min read · 1 table

  2. Which TABC Permit Do You Need to Sell Alcohol in Your Restaurant?

    In a wet area, the permit follows the drinks. A restaurant that serves cocktails or spirits needs a Mixed Beverage Permit (MB)…

    5 min read · 3 tables

  3. Multiple Locations, Multiple Licenses? TABC Requirements for Multi-Unit Operators

    Yes. Texas has no single permit that covers several locations. Section 11.02 of the Alcoholic Beverage Code requires that "a separate permit…

    4 min read · 1 table

  4. How to Apply for a TABC Permit: A Step-by-Step Guide for New Bar Owners in Texas

    A new bar applies for its TABC permit in the Alcohol Industry Management System (AIMS), and the application is complete only when…

    5 min read

Stage 2 of 7

Operating

Staying compliant from day to day

  1. How to Check Your TABC License Status

    There are two places to check. A business looks up its own licenses, permits, and pending applications by logging in to its…

    3 min read · 1 table

  2. TABC Inspection: What They Look For

    A TABC inspection checks the premises against the Alcoholic Beverage Code and TABC's rules, and the agency's stated focus is public safety…

    4 min read · 1 table

  3. TABC Compliance Checklist for Bars and Restaurants

    A useful TABC compliance checklist separates three kinds of items: what the Alcoholic Beverage Code and TABC's rules require of every bar…

    4 min read · 3 tables

Stage 3 of 7

Investigated

Stings and investigations

  1. TABC Sting Operations: Know Your Rights

    In a TABC "minor sting," a person under 21 working with TABC agents tries to buy alcohol at a licensed business. If…

    4 min read

  2. How Long Does a TABC Investigation Take?

    TABC does not publish a standard length for an investigation. Its violations page and its public safety and enforcement FAQ describe how…

    3 min read · 1 table

Stage 4 of 7

Cited

Notices, citations and sales to minors

  1. How to Respond to a TABC Violation Notice (Step-by-Step AIMS Guide)

    A TABC violation notice arrives by email to the "Primary" user on the business's Alcohol Industry Management System (AIMS) account, and the…

    4 min read

  2. Employee Caught Selling to Minor: What Is the Employer’s Liability?

    When an employee sells alcohol to a minor, the employer's exposure runs on three tracks: the permit, the bond, and civil liability…

    4 min read · 1 table

  3. What Happens If You Ignore a TABC Citation?

    Ignoring a TABC administrative notice does not make the case go away. If the business takes no action in AIMS by the…

    5 min read · 1 table

  4. TABC Safe Harbor Defense Explained: Requirements, Deadlines, and Limitations

    Texas's Safe Harbor rule keeps an employee's sale to a minor or an intoxicated person from being charged against the employer's permit…

    5 min read · 1 table

  5. Difference Between TABC Warning and Citation

    "Citation" covers two different documents in Texas alcohol enforcement. TABC's public safety and enforcement FAQ draws the line: "A criminal citation is…

    4 min read · 1 table

  6. Selling Alcohol to a Minor: TABC Penalties and License Consequences

    A sale to a minor, meaning anyone under 21, can trigger two separate tracks. The person who made the sale can be…

    4 min read · 1 table

Stage 5 of 7

Penalized

Fines, suspensions and the choice between them

  1. Multiple TABC Violations: What Happens Next

    A second or third violation draws a higher sanction under TABC's rules when it repeats the same Code provision or rule, the…

    4 min read · 1 table

  2. TABC Penalty Chart Explained: Understanding Suspension Days and Fines

    TABC's penalty chart is really two charts. Public safety violations, such as a sale to a minor or to an intoxicated person…

    6 min read · 1 table

  3. TABC Civil Penalty vs. Suspension: Which Should You Choose?

    You can choose only if TABC offers the choice, and the Alcoholic Beverage Code decides when it must. Section 11.64 requires TABC…

    4 min read · 2 tables

  4. TABC Emergency Suspension Order: What to Do in the First 24 Hours

    In the first 24 hours, stop all alcohol sales and deliveries, read the order for its length and stated basis, and prepare…

    4 min read · 1 table

  5. Can You Keep Your Business Open While Your TABC License Is Suspended?

    A TABC suspension does not by itself require the non-alcohol side of the business to close, unless the suspension order imposes more…

    4 min read · 1 table

Stage 6 of 7

Contesting

Hearings and appeals

  1. TABC Administrative Hearing: What to Expect

    A TABC administrative hearing is a trial-like proceeding before an administrative law judge of the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH), not…

    4 min read · 1 table

  2. Can You Appeal a TABC License Revocation?

    Yes, in two steps. First, a motion for rehearing must be filed with TABC no later than the 25th day after the…

    5 min read · 1 table

Stage 7 of 7

Renewing

Renewal, transfer and buying a bar

  1. TABC License Renewal After Violation: What You Need to Know

    A violation on the record does not by itself stop a renewal. What can stop one is a ground for denial that…

    4 min read · 1 table

  2. Buying a Bar in Texas: How to Transfer an Alcohol License and Verify Violation History

    What happens to the alcohol permit depends on what the buyer is buying. When the permit holder changes, as in a purchase…

    5 min read · 1 table

  3. Transferring a TABC License After Violation

    A TABC license or permit cannot be transferred to a new owner, with or without a violation on its record. TABC's FAQ…

    4 min read · 1 table