News
Catch up with the latest news and guidance from TABC. You can read our news releases, marketing practices advisories, licensing and audit bulletins, industry notifications, announcements, and articles.
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AIMS Payment Cart temporarily unavailable
The Alcohol Industry Management System (AIMS) Payment Cart will be temporarily unavailable from July 24 through late August as TABC transitions to a new payment and accounting system. The Payment Cart allows users to pay for up to 10 items simultaneously. This temporary unavailability does not impact AIMS users' ability to use the 'Pay Now' button to pay for individual transactions separately. While the Payment Cart is unavailable, all users must pay for each transaction separately by clicking the 'Pay Now' button. Any user who had items pending in their Payment Cart as of July 22 will still be able to access those items by selecting the 'Unsubmitted Transactions' tile in AIMS and then paying for them individually using the 'Pay Now' button on the payment screen. TABC will send another notice when the AIMS Payment Cart feature has been restored.
Read moreTABC agent awarded 2025 State of Texas Law Enforcement Achievement Award for Valor for response to active shooter at Houston’s Lakewood Church
AUSTIN — Agent Adrian Herrera of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) received the 2025 State of Texas Law Enforcement Achievement Award for Valor from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE). The award was presented on June 13 during a ceremony in the Texas House of Representatives Chamber at the Texas Capitol. Herrera was honored for his quick response that stopped an active shooter at Houston’s Lakewood Church last year. The church was holding a Sunday afternoon service on Feb. 11, 2024, when a woman opened fire with a long rifle in the lobby of the building. Herrera, who is stationed at TABC’s Houston office, was providing security for the church during his off-duty hours. After gunfire erupted, a church volunteer notified church security. Herrera and another off-duty officer then approached the woman and exchanged gunfire before neutralizing the threat. “Agent Herrera answered the call to action without regard for his own safety that day, saving countless lives,” TABC Executive Director Thomas Graham said. “Agent Herrera’s commitment to protecting others is one shared by every TABC agent and peace officer across Texas, whether they’re clocked in or not. This is a very proud day for our agency.” TCOLE’s annual State of Texas Law Enforcement Achievement Awards recognize peace officers, reserve officers, telecommunicators, and jailers who have demonstrated exceptional performance beyond the standard expectations of their duties through acts of professional achievement, public service, or valor. Winners are decided by a judging panel and the TCOLE Board of Commissioners. “We want to thank TCOLE for recognizing Agent Herrera with this esteemed honor and for sharing his story,” Graham said. Herrera was also named 2024 National Alcohol Law Enforcement Agent of the Year by the National Liquor Law Enforcement Association in November 2024 and he received the 100 Club of Houston’s Officer of the Year award in May this year. He joined TABC as an agent in March 2019.
Read morePrompt action required to complete 2025 compliance report(s) by June 30
Businesses have just a few weeks left to complete compliance report(s) for their licensed or permitted locations in Texas, and any others shown in AIMS as having an unsubmitted report. Failure to meet this deadline may result in a visit from TABC, an administrative warning, or suspension or cancellation of the license/permit. What: You must conduct a 2025 compliance report (i.e., self-inspection) for each of your TABC-licensed or permitted locations in Texas if the primary license or permit was originally issued in 2023 or before. No compliance report is due in 2025 for licenses and permits originally issued in 2024 or 2025. Why: Compliance reporting helps us confirm that your business is following the law. Failing to file a report on time may result in a visit from TABC, an administrative warning, or suspension or cancellation of the license. When: Start and finish your compliance report(s) between Jan. 1, 2025, and June 30, 2025.
Read moreTABC publishes interactive wet/dry map
Figuring out which alcohol sales are allowed at specific locations across Texas has become easier with TABC’s new interactive wet/dry map. The new map allows users to view the status of a county — dry, partially wet, or wet for alcohol sales — and see the alcohol types allowed for various jurisdictions within the county. The map was made possible through a partnership between TABC and the General Land Office. Currently, most Texas counties and cities allow some form of alcohol sales. and there are 60 completely wet counties and three completely dry counties in the state. Where alcohol may be sold in Texas is determined by a local option election in which voters in a county, municipality, or precinct decide the types of alcoholic beverage sales they want to allow in their community.
Read moreTexas Alcoholic Beverage Commission removes 25 potential human trafficking victims from Houston-area bar during joint operation
HOUSTON — Agents of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), FBI, and Harris County District Attorney’s Office conducted a joint operation at a Houston-area bar following an investigation into allegations of prostitution and human trafficking. More than 30 agents took part in the operation at Fridas Sports Bar located at 2217 McCarty Street late Thursday. In total, TABC victim services coordinators interviewed 25 potential human trafficking victims who were present in the bar. “This operation resulted from weeks of investigation into alleged criminal activity taking place at the bar,” TABC Chairman Kevin J. Lilly said. “Let there be no mistake: Illegal conduct has no place in a TABC-licensed business, and we will continue to take action against any bad actors who think they can use a legitimate business as a front for their crimes.” TABC prioritizes assisting the potential victims of human trafficking in cases such as this one, TABC Executive Director Thomas Graham said. “TABC’s victim services coordinators are experts at talking to individuals who have been victimized by organized crime,” he said. “Our goal is, first and foremost, to remove them from danger and to connect them with the resources they need, from medical help to counseling.” The investigation followed weeks of evidence-gathering and joint investigation by TABC and its task force partners at the local, state, and federal levels. Such partnerships are the backbone of TABC’s efforts to ensure public safety, Lilly said. “This success wouldn’t have been possible without the outstanding work and support of our partners at all levels of government,” he said. “Public safety is, by nature, a joint effort. Coordinating our efforts and supporting our partner agencies are crucial to working efficiently toward a safer Texas.” The bar remains the subject of ongoing criminal and administrative investigations by TABC, HSI, FBI, and the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. Media Contact: Chris Porter TABC Director of Communications (512) 206-3462 media@tabc.texas.gov
Read moreTexas Alcoholic Beverage Commission kicks off annual Spring Break, festival safety operation
AUSTIN — Agents from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) are ramping up efforts to curb underage drinking and intoxicated driving across the state as part of the agency’s annual spring break safety operation. The operation, which includes both undercover and open inspections of TABC-licensed alcohol retailers, seeks to identify businesses that violate state law by selling alcohol to people younger than 21. More than 200 TABC Enforcement agents and members of the agency’s Targeted Responsibility for Alcohol-Connected Emergencies (TRACE) unit are taking part in the effort. “Spring break is an opportunity for Texans to celebrate with some well-earned time off and support the thriving tourism and entertainment industries in our state,” TABC Executive Director Thomas Graham said. “Our goal with this operation is to ensure businesses do the right thing and prevent alcohol sales that could endanger public safety.” Throughout the spring break period, TABC agents will conduct additional “minor sales investigations” at businesses in cities with colleges or universities, as well as popular destinations along Texas’s Gulf Coast and its travel corridors. During a minor sales investigation, undercover TABC agents work to identify any business selling alcohol to a minor. Visible TABC agents will also patrol popular travel destinations and festival locations, such as Austin’s SXSW music festival, to ensure retailers are complying with state law. “This operation serves a dual purpose,” Graham said. “We first and foremost want to serve as a resource that educates businesses on how to stay in compliance with state law but we also want to take corrective action to get a business back on track if that becomes necessary. In the leadup to spring break, and throughout the month of March, our agents and auditors will be available to answer questions and respond to complaints, both in popular spring break destinations and across the state.” Similar operations in past years recorded an average compliance rate over 90 percent. In total, TABC regulates more than 60,000 licensed alcohol retail locations across the state. Selling alcohol to a person younger than 21 is a class A misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $4,000, jail time for up to one year, or both. Any business found in violation could also face a fine or possible suspension of their TABC license to sell alcoholic beverages. For more information about TABC, or to download free educational resources, visit tabc.texas.gov. Media Contact: Chris Porter TABC Director of Communications (512) 206-3462 media@tabc.texas.gov
Read moreTABC makes arrest in connection to stolen alcohol shipments
A South Texas man has been arrested by agents of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) on charges related to the theft of name-brand distilled spirits being shipped within the state. Mathew Tafolla, 37, was arrested Jan. 24 by TABC agents in Donna on a second-degree felony charge for theft of cargo. TABC agents were notified in July 2024 of a shipment of spirits that went missing while in transit. A joint investigation by TABC and several partnering law enforcement agencies – including the Travis County Sheriff’s Office, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Federal Bureau of Investigations – resulted in TABC recovering the missing inventory in Dallas in late 2024. Further investigation identified a suspect, leading to Tafolla’s arrest on Friday. TABC’s identification and arrest of Tafolla came about as part of a larger on-going investigation by the agency into multiple alcohol cargo thefts that have occurred across Texas. “Theft of alcohol inventory not only hurts the affected business, It also hurts the people of Texas who are put at risk by the unregulated sales of these products on the black market,” TABC Chairman Kevin J. Lilly said. “This week’s arrest is a major step forward in this ongoing case, and TABC will continue working tirelessly on this investigation until the involved parties are held accountable.” Tafolla is currently being held in the Hildalgo County Jail. Media Contact: Chris Porter TABC Director of Communications (512) 206-3462 media@tabc.texas.gov
Read moreGov. Abbott appoints M. Scott Adkins, Chad M. Craycraft to serve on Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission
AUSTIN — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has appointed Chad M. Craycraft to serve on the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, while reappointing current Commissioner M. Scott Adkins for a second term. Craycraft, a fifth-generation Texan raised in Georgetown, is a graduate of the University of Texas and the University of Texas School of Law. He is a state government veteran who has served in multiple roles within Texas government including previous service as chairman of the Texas Ethics Commission. Craycraft currently serves as executive vice president and general counsel at Graduation Alliance, an education technology firm. Adkins, a TABC commissioner since 2019, is president of fire and security company PyroCom Systems, as well as CEO of Currey Adkins, an information technology company. A graduate of Texas Christian University, Adkins also volunteers as a board member of the Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce Foundation and Las Palmas Del Sol Hospitals. “I couldn’t be more pleased with Governor Abbott’s decision to appoint Chad Craycraft to the Commission, and I’m proud to congratulate Scott Adkins on his appointment to a second term,” TABC Chairman Kevin J. Lilly said. “Scott’s expertise has been crucial throughout TABC’s technology modernization efforts, and I’m certain both he and Chad Craycraft will leverage their knowledge and experience as we work together to make TABC a model state agency.” “Leaders like Commissioner Adkins and Chad Craycraft are vital to ensuring TABC continues to successfully fulfill its mission of supporting businesses and protecting our communities,” TABC Executive Director Thomas W. Graham said. “I look forward to working with them both to provide accountability and excellent service to the alcoholic beverage industry and all Texans.” Members of the Commission are appointed by the governor and serve staggered terms. The board has ultimate oversight over TABC, which is responsible for regulating all aspects of the Texas alcoholic beverage industry. Adkins and Craycraft will begin their new terms as TABC commissioners after confirmation by the Texas Senate. If confirmed, both appointees’ terms would expire on Nov. 15, 2029. Adkins will continue his service at TABC under his initial appointment until his reappointment is confirmed. Media Contact: Chris Porter TABC Director of Communications (512) 206-3462 media@tabc.texas.gov
Read moreINDUSTRY NOTICE: It's time to conduct your 2025 compliance report(s)
To: Holders of BW, BB, BC, BE, BF, BG, BQ, D, G, MB, N, NB, NE, P, Q, W, and X licenses and permits Re: Required compliance reporting for TABC-licensed businesses with Texas locations has started What: You must conduct a 2025 compliance report (i.e., self-inspection) for each of your listed TABC-licensed or permitted locations in Texas if the primary license or permit was originally issued in 2023 or before. No compliance report is due in 2025 for licenses and permits originally issued in 2024 or after. Note: While the top of this email lists licenses and permits associated with your email address that must submit a 2025 compliance report, it might not list all such licenses and permits for which a compliance report is due. To view all such permits and their reporting status, log in to AIMS. Why: Compliance reporting helps us confirm that your business is following the law. Failing to file a report on time could cause a visit from TABC, an administrative warning, or suspension or cancellation of the license. When: Start and finish your compliance report(s) between Jan. 1, 2025, and June 30, 2025.
Read moreINDUSTRY NOTICE: Avoiding tier violations when using B2B e-commerce platforms
To: TABC-licensed and -permitted distributors, wholesalers, retailers, and stakeholders Re: Avoiding tier violations when using B2B e-commerce platforms TABC is aware that multiple business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce platforms have entered the Texas market, and some retailers are using these platforms to place or facilitate their alcoholic beverage orders with distributors and wholesalers. The agency is also aware that some distributors and wholesalers have contracted with e-commerce platforms to serve as one of the wholesaler’s or distributor’s designated ordering platforms. This is a significant development in Texas’s alcoholic beverage industry, so I want to take this opportunity to stress to all interested parties that TABC still enforces a strict separation between the manufacturing, wholesaling, and retailing levels of the industry. Members of the industry remain free to run their respective businesses as they see fit, within the confines of the law; however, a member of one tier of the industry may not manage or control the business or interests of a member of another tier. To that point, if a retailer attempted to force a distributor or wholesaler to use or accept orders from a particular e-commerce platform, that may constitute a violation of the Alcoholic Beverage Code (“Code”). TABC will investigate such allegations for potential enforcement action. While e-commerce platform operators are generally not licensed by TABC, they must still abide by the Code. If a platform operator changes, redirects, or otherwise interferes with the fulfillment of an alcoholic beverage order placed by a retailer, TABC will investigate to determine if a violation occurred. TABC’s goal is to provide a healthy regulatory environment for the Texas alcoholic beverage industry to ensure public safety while also supporting businesses. The emergence of e-commerce platforms does not change that goal, and we will closely monitor how these platforms operate to help ensure the health of the industry and the safety of Texans. If you have questions regarding this letter, please contact TABC in writing at P.O. Box 13127, Austin, TX 78711; by email at marketing.practices@tabc.texas.gov; or by phone at 512-206-3411. Sincerely, Thomas W. Graham Executive Director
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