TABC to Host Roundtable with El Paso, Lubbock-Area Industry and Elected Leaders

Local members of the alcoholic beverage industry and the Texas Legislature will join leaders from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission at a series of roundtable discussions Oct. 16 in Lubbock and Oct. 17 in El Paso. The Lubbock roundtable begins at 9 a.m. in the Mesa Room of the Texas Tech Student Union Building, 2625 15th Street in Lubbock. The El Paso meeting starts at 9 a.m. the following day in the Sun Metro Center, 10151 Montana Avenue in El Paso.

The meetings give attendees a chance to weigh in on TABC's mission, policies, and performance. The Texas alcoholic beverage industry has continued to see strong growth over the last decade, with more than 52,000 licensed businesses contributing more than $40 billion annually to the Texas economy and an expected $2 billion in tax revenue to the state treasury in fiscal years 2018-2019.

El Paso State Representative Joe Pickett was instrumental in organizing the El Paso roundtable.

"The alcoholic beverage industry plays a huge role in the West Texas economy," said Pickett. "With all of the issues coming through my office over the years, I appreciate the TABC allowing me to help coordinate this roundtable."

As the state's sole alcohol regulator, TABC is charged with helping eligible persons to obtain the necessary licenses or permits to do business while ensuring industry members remain in compliance with the laws put in place by the Texas Legislature.

"As the alcoholic beverage industry grows, it's up to TABC to grow with it," said A. Bentley Nettles, TABC Executive Director. "We're asking our partners in the industry to let us know how we can improve our job performance moving forward. Additionally, we're asking them to identify things that we're doing right so we can ensure those best practices are emulated across the state. This is an outstanding opportunity for TABC to take its message directly to the businesses we help regulate."

The agency has also invited local members of the Texas House of Representatives and the Texas Senate to the roundtables to share their views on the agency, Nettles said.

"With the Sunset Advisory Commission wrapping up its year-long review of TABC, we want to keep the lines of communication open between our elected leaders and the agency," Nettles said. "These roundtable discussions serve as a forum for agency leaders, industry members, and lawmakers to express their ideas about the path forward for TABC during this important time."

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