TABC Protecting Texans During 2021 Paisano Season

TABC expects moderate to heavy traffic at Texas’ Ports of Entry during Paisano season this year despite the COVID-19 pandemic. The rush typically lasts Jan. 1 to 13, when thousands of travelers return to the U.S. after visiting their families in Mexico during the winter holidays.

TABC’s regulatory compliance officers (RCOs) are working to protect Texans by enforcing alcohol laws and taking COVID-19 precautions at the state’s 30 ports of entry. They include 28 border land crossings and two Galveston seaports.

While numerous travelers this year followed the CDC’s coronavirus recommendations to stay home, the federal government is allowing essential travel between the U.S. and Mexico.

TABC is taking many precautions to protect travelers and RCOs during the pandemic, including wearing facial coverings, conducting business outdoors and having travelers stay in their vehicles.

TABC keeps Texans safe and supports the state’s general revenue fund during Paisano season by:

• Making sure travelers returning with alcohol and tobacco products are of legal age to possess the products in the U.S.
• Stopping potentially dangerous, improperly labeled or excess alcoholic beverages or tobacco from crossing into the U.S.
• Collecting state-mandated taxes and fees on alcohol and tobacco products.

Last year, officers stamped nearly 1.8 million containers of alcohol and tobacco, and stopped more than 34,000 containers of illicit or excess alcohol or other items from crossing into Texas.

TABC sees the most Paisano traffic in Laredo and Eagle Pass, where the locations of highways in the U.S. and Mexico are convenient for many travelers. In Laredo alone, RCOs collected nearly $470,000 in revenue last year during Paisano season.

Learn more about the rules and restrictions for bringing alcohol and cigarettes into Texas on TABC’s Ports of Entry page.