TABC Planning Increased Operations During San Antonio Fiesta Week

SAN ANTONIO – Agents from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission's San Antonio Enforcement Office will conduct additional operations intended to promote public safety during that city's busy Fiesta Week ending April 28.

During Fiesta Week, TABC personnel will conduct educational sessions with alcohol industry members to increase voluntary compliance, and agents will engage in operations designed to monitor retailers to ensure alcoholic beverages are being sold responsibly in accordance with state law.

Planned operations will be designed to detect sales of alcoholic beverages to intoxicated patrons, and to identify retailers who sell alcoholic beverages to customers younger than 21. TABC enforcement personnel will also join forces with San Antonio police and with local retailers to identify minors using fraudulent identification to obtain alcohol and prevent adults from illegally providing it to minors. In addition, TABC’s new TRACE program (Target Responsibility for Alcohol-Connected Emergencies) will allow TABC agents to work with their partners in local law enforcement to determine whether over-service by an alcohol retailer has played a part in an alcohol-related incident which involves minors or serious bodily injury or death.

"We want Fiesta to be a time of celebration and fun for San Antonians, as well as an economic boost for the local business community," said Maj. Mark Menn, Regional Enforcement Supervisor for TABC’s Region 5. "However, as we are all aware, such celebrations can sometimes involve tragic consequences, such as drunk driving deaths, violence, and the dangers of underage alcohol consumption. The TABC mission is to increase public safety at such events by working directly with our industry members to promote voluntary compliance through awareness and then monitoring alcohol sales to ensure that compliance."

The agency is also working with San Antonio’s Silver Eagle Distributors and Lyft San Antonio to promote the Safe Ride program throughout Fiesta. Lyft passengers can use the promo code BUDLIGHTDD19 to receive two $5 increments of Lyft ride credit to use toward two rides to or from festival events April 12-28, while supplies last. Users can download the Lyft mobile app and use the promo code when requesting a ride to or from the party.

"We’re proud to partner with Silver Eagle Distributors and Lyft to promote the Safe Ride program during this year’s Fiesta," said TABC Executive Director Bentley Nettles. "This program makes it easier for guests to ensure they have a safe ride to or from Fiesta events. It’s our hope that Fiesta attendees will take advantage of this and other programs designed to keep San Antonio roads free of alcohol-related accidents. Above all, we urge all partygoers to celebrate safely."

San Antonio's Fiesta Week began in 1891 as a way to honor the memory of the battles of the Alamo and San Jacinto. The festival is the city's signature event and contributes more than $200 million to the local economy each year.

Contact: Chris Porter TABC Public Information Officer (512) 206-3462