News
Catch up with the latest news and guidance from TABC. You can read our news releases, marketing practices advisories, licencing and audit bulletins, industry notifications, announcements, and articles.
For media inquiries and other public information, visit the Public Information page.
TABC announces 93% retailer compliance rate during back-to-school operations
AUSTIN — A statewide series of inspections by agents from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission found that 93% of retailers successfully prevented the sale of alcohol to minors during the busy back-to-school season. The inspections, called “underage compliance operations” (UCOs) by TABC, are part of the agency’s regular efforts to ensure retailers are aware of Texas’ laws against selling alcohol to customers younger than 21. While TABC enforcement agents conduct UCOs on a weekly basis, the back-to-school operations represent a statewide effort to inspect alcohol retailers located near major colleges or universities. In total, TABC agents visited 1,144 alcohol retailers throughout August and September, finding just 81 violations, or a 93% compliance rate. “This data tells us that the vast majority of Texas alcohol retailers take their customers’ safety seriously and are already working to hold their employees accountable,” said Thomas Graham, TABC Executive Director. “These retailers understand that they are the first line of defense when it comes to preventing alcohol-related injury or death, and all of us at TABC are grateful for their continued dedication to maintaining safe communities.” Businesses found selling alcohol to a minor could face a fine or a possible suspension of their license to sell alcohol. Employees who sell alcohol to a minor could face a class A misdemeanor charge punishable by a fine up to $4,000 and one year in jail. For more information on TABC, visit tabc.texas.gov. Media Contact: Chris Porter TABC Director of Communications (512) 206-3462 media@tabc.texas.gov
Read moreTABC agents seize illegal distillation equipment during Johnson County operation
AUSTIN — An anonymous tip led agents from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission to uncover and seize illegal distilling equipment during a successful operation Sept. 1. Agents from TABC’s Arlington Regional Office led the operation to seize the still, which was discovered at a residence in Johnson County. The still was maintained in operable condition, meaning it could be used to manufacture illicit alcohol in violation of state law. During an interview with TABC agents, a person living at the residence admitted to owning the equipment. Section 103.02 of the Alcoholic Beverage Code prohibits any person from possessing equipment “designed for, capable of use for, or used in manufacturing an illicit beverage,” including the possession of distillation equipment without a TABC Distiller’s and Rectifier’s Permit. The Code allows peace officers to seize any illicit alcoholic beverages along with any equipment used in their manufacture. “This operation exemplifies TABC’s commitment to properly enforcing the law and ensuring the safety and integrity of the alcoholic beverage industry in Texas,” TABC Executive Director Thomas Graham said. “Not only does illicit alcohol risk the health and safety of anyone who consumes it, but it also undermines the efforts of law-abiding alcohol manufacturers, distributors and retailers who continue the do the right thing when operating their businesses.” Possession of illicit distillation equipment is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine between $100–$1,000. The case remains under investigation. For more information on TABC, visit tabc.texas.gov. Media Contact: Chris Porter TABC Director of Communications (512) 206-3462 media@tabc.texas.gov
Read moreReminder: LPs must switch to new tax ID stamp portal
TABC wants to ensure that holders of a Local Distributor Permit (LP) are using the new online ordering portal for tax ID stamps, which launched in February 2023. The new tax ID stamps system is provided by OpSec Security. Please delete the previous tax ID stamps system link from your records and do not log in to the old system. Any stamps ordered from the old system are still valid. The image below shows how the new system’s log-in screen looks:
Read moreINDUSTRY NOTICE: Sept. 1 deadline for in-state brewers and brewpubs to register malt beverages with TTB COLA and alcohol content
To: Holders of a Brewer’s License (BW) or Brewpub License (BP) Starting Sept. 1, 2023, in-state brewers and brewpubs must ensure that the alcohol by volume (ABV) is displayed on all malt beverage products that were registered before Sept. 1, 2021, and are still being sold in the stream of distribution. Each product must also have an approved Certificate of Label Approval (COLA) from the U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) on file with TABC.
Read moreTABC arrests Austin convenience store clerk for online solicitation of minor, illegal alcohol sales
AUSTIN — A joint operation by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission and the Department of Public Safety has resulted in the arrest of an Austin convenience store clerk on charges of online solicitation of a minor, sale of alcohol to a minor, and furnishing alcohol to a minor. Pedro Enrique Flores-Vasquez, 48, was taken into custody Aug. 11 and booked into the Travis County Jail. Flores-Vasquez, an employee of Hyde Park Market, 4429 Duval St. in Austin, remains in custody in lieu of a combined $34,000 bond. Online solicitation of a minor is a third-degree felony punishable by a prison sentence of between two to 10 years, along with a fine of up to $10,000. Selling alcohol to a minor and furnishing alcohol to a minor are both class A misdemeanors punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $4,000. The criminal case against Flores-Vasquez is pending. For more information on TABC, visit tabc.texas.gov. Media Contact: Chris Porter TABC Director of Communications (512) 206-3462 media@tabc.texas.gov
Read moreAgenda posted for commission meeting scheduled for Aug. 8, 2023
A regular meeting of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. CDT.
Read moreINDUSTRY NOTICE: Update to AIMS emails in July
Emails that license and permit holders receive from TABC’s Alcohol Industry Management System (AIMS) are getting a new design in July. Over the coming weeks, you will start seeing AIMS emails that look like the example image below. The new design has the gold TABC logo at the top, a dark blue background, and our social media icons at the bottom. We’re making these improvements to ensure all messages you receive from AIMS are consistent and easy to read. If you have questions about emails from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, contact us at (512) 206-3333. Get more help and information on using AIMS at our How to Use AIMS page.
Read moreSubmit Hall of Honor nominations for 2024
TABC is calling for nominations of retired TABC employees, living or deceased, for induction into the agency’s Hall of Honor. Throughout TABC’s history, great leaders and public servants have dedicated their careers to protecting public health and safety while supporting businesses in a vital industry. Since TABC established the Hall of Honor in 2020, five employees have been inducted for their dedication. The deadline for nominations is Sept. 30, 2023.
Read moreNew fee law for local governments from 88th Texas legislative session
A new law approved by the 88th Texas Legislature (Senate Bill 577) removes the ability of local governments with a public health district to collect a fee from businesses that are issued an alcoholic beverage license or permit in their jurisdiction. Existing law in Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code Sections 11.38 and 61.36 authorizes the governing body of an incorporated city or town and the commissioners court of a county to collect a fee for each TABC license or permit issued within their jurisdictional boundaries. That fee could amount to one-half of the state fee. The new law created by Senate Bill 577 adds the following provision to the Texas Health and Safety Code and goes into effect on Sept. 1, 2023: Texas Health and Safety Code Section 437.01235. FEES FOR PREMISES WITH ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE PERMIT OR LICENSE. A county or a municipality with a public health district that requires the payment of a fee for issuing or renewing a permit under Sec. 437.012 or 437.1023 for a premises permitted or licensed by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission may not also charge a fee under Section 11.38 or 61.36, Alcoholic Beverage Code, for an alcoholic beverage permit or license issued for premises located in the county or municipality. This new law does not impact TABC’s operations or processes — and does not charge TABC with enforcing it. Each unit of local government is responsible for determining its compliance with the new law. Read the full text of SB 577.
Read moreTABC arrests one for labor trafficking following joint operation
AUSTIN — A Cuban citizen stands accused of labor trafficking following his arrest by agents of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission May 24. Luis Diaz Sala was arrested at his home in Irving as part of a joint operation by TABC, the Dallas Police Department and officers of the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security’s Gangs and Violent Crimes Task Force. The joint operation identified Diaz Sala as a suspected labor trafficker in February 2022, when it learned that an organized criminal element was smuggling people from Cuba to the United States and forcing them to work at a TABC-licensed business to pay off the smuggling debt. During that investigation, agents observed Diaz Sala at the business on multiple occasions and confirmed his suspected ties with the business’ management. TABC agents obtained an arrest warrant for Diaz Sala in May 2023, and made the arrest a short time later, charging him with violations of Texas’ labor trafficking laws. “This case is a huge win for TABC’s Special Investigations Unit and our task force partners,” TABC Executive Director Thomas Graham said. “Stopping labor trafficking and human trafficking is a top priority for this agency, and we will continue to work tirelessly to identify these suspected traffickers and bring them to justice.” Diaz Sala remains in custody at the Dallas County Jail. The name of the involved business will be disclosed once a related TABC investigation is complete. Media Contact: Chris Porter TABC Director of Communications (512) 206-3462 media@tabc.texas.gov
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