- Governor waived regulations for Texas restaurants to deliver alcohol
- The waivers are in response to the financial hardship caused by COVID-19
- Certain provisions also allow repurchase or sell back of unopened products
Gov. Greg Abbott waived certain regulations to allow restaurants to deliver alcoholic beverages to support the hospitality industry. The announcement was made Wednesday evening to combat the spread of COVID-19.
Abbott issued a waiver that will allow restaurants to deliver alcoholic beverages with food purchases to customers; this includes beer, wine, and mixed drinks. Abbott also directed the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission to waive certain provisions to allow manufactures, wholesalers, and retailers of alcoholic beverages to repurchase or sell back unopened products.
Restaurants in Texas can now deliver alcoholic beverages with food purchases to customers.
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) March 19, 2020
In response to #coronavirus I waived some regulations that hindered that.
These next few weeks it’s important to support our restaurants. They’re a great source of food for Texans. pic.twitter.com/j9LFsDFceE
Under this waiver, immediately effective, restaurants with a mixed beverage permit may sell beer, wine, or mixed drinks for delivery as long as they are accompanied by food purchased from the restaurant. The buy-back waiver allows alcohol distributors and manufacturers to repurchase excess inventory from restaurants, bars, and clubs affected by closures and event cancellations.
The Governor’s office says these waivers are in response to the financial hardship caused by COVID-19 that has disproportionately affected the hospitality industry.
