Texas Gov. Greg Abbott this week signed HB 1024 making cocktails to go permanent in the state—supporting hospitality businesses devastated by COVID-19 and providing increased convenience for consumers. Texas is the 10th state to make a COVID-era cocktails to-go measure permanent.
Other market modernization efforts are also moving through the Texas Legislature including one bill to allow seven-day spirits sales statewide (HB 937) and others that would allow local option elections for seven-day spirits sales (SB 1013; HB 2232).
According to a statewide poll released by the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS), 65 percent of Texas voters support cocktails-to-go legislation; 65 percent of Texans support seven-day sales at liquor stores and craft distilleries; and 61 percent support allowing seven-day sales to be decided at the local level via local option election.