TABC Earns Outstanding Agency Award from Southeast Texas MADD Chapter, TxDOT

AUSTIN – The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission’s Target Responsibility for Alcohol-Connected Emergencies (TRACE) unit was honored with the Outstanding Agency Award from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and the Southeast Texas chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

The award recognizes organizations that have helped investigate and prevent drunken driving accidents. TABC’s TRACE unit is responsible for investigating businesses suspected of selling or serving alcohol to people accused of being involved in alcohol-related incidents, such as assault or drunken driving fatalities. Businesses found to have violated the state’s alcohol laws could be required to suspend alcohol sales or pay a fine.

Since the TRACE unit was established in January 2021, it has investigated more than 1,200 suspected incidents, leading to more than 200 active investigations. Of those, 55 have resulted in TABC taking administrative action against a business.

More than three-quarters of TRACE investigations involve suspected DWIs, TABC Executive Director Bentley Nettles said.

“There’s no question that drunken driving is one of the biggest risk factors when it comes to the retail sale of alcohol,” Nettles said. “Thanks to the education efforts of our partners at MADD and TxDOT, as well as the work of the TRACE unit, I’m proud to say that the vast majority of businesses are doing their part to prevent future tragedies.”

MADD’s mission to end drunken or impaired driving accidents has resulted in numerous successful partnerships across Texas, including a longstanding relationship with TABC.

“We could not further our mission of ‘No More Victims’ without these partnerships and collaborations with all of our law enforcement agencies. Through MADD’s ‘Take the Wheel’ initiative, it is an honor to recognize those officers who put their life on the line every day to keep our roads safe,” said Debra Marable, MADD Texas state program director. “MADD supports our law enforcement heroes and everything they do to help us eliminate drunk and impaired driving.”

TABC is Texas’ sole alcohol regulatory agency with oversight over the manufacture, distribution and sale of alcohol across the state. TABC agents are commissioned peace officers responsible for upholding public safety and ensuring a safe and law-abiding alcoholic beverage industry. To learn more about TABC’s efforts to reduce alcohol-related injuries or fatalities, visit tabc.texas.gov.

Founded in 1980 by a mother whose daughter was killed by a drunk driver, Mothers Against Drunk Driving® (MADD) is the nation’s largest nonprofit working to end drunk driving, help fight drugged driving, support the victims of these violent crimes and prevent underage drinking. MADD has helped to save more than 350,000 lives, reduce drunk driving deaths by more than 50 percent and promote designating a non-drinking driver. MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving® calls for law enforcement support, ignition interlocks for all offenders and advanced vehicle technology. MADD has provided supportive services to nearly one million drunk and drugged driving victims and survivors at no charge through local victim advocates and the 24-Hour Victim Help Line 877-MADD-HELP. Visit madd.org or call 877-ASK-MADD.  

TABC Media Contact:

Chris Porter

TABC Public Information Officer

media@tabc.texas.gov