
Texas has a long and complex history of regulating alcohol sales, with laws varying across cities and counties. The state's blue laws, originally designed to protect Sunday as a day of worship, have been phased out over time, but restrictions on alcohol sales persist. While beer and wine can be purchased from grocery and convenience stores from 10 a.m. to midnight on Sundays, liquor sales are prohibited in stores on Sundays, reflecting stringent regulations aimed at limiting alcohol consumption.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Day | Sunday |
| Time | 10 a.m. to midnight |
| Type of Alcohol | Beer and Wine |
| Type of Store | Grocery and Convenience Stores |
| Liquor Stores | Closed |
| Liquor in Bars and Restaurants | Served after noon, or 10 a.m. with food |
| Live Events at Sports Venues, Festivals, Fairs, or Concerts | Alcohol service can begin at 10 a.m. |
| "Dry Counties" | Four Texas counties don't allow alcohol sales at all |
| "Wet Counties" | 59 Texas counties allow alcohol sales |
| "Blue Laws" | Restrict alcohol sales on Sundays, typically for religious reasons |
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What You'll Learn

Texas 'blue laws' restrict Sunday alcohol sales
Texas has a long and complex history of regulating the sale of alcohol. The state has strict rules about when and where alcohol, especially liquor, can be sold, and these rules are even stricter on Sundays. Texas's blue laws restrict Sunday alcohol sales, and while many of these laws have been repealed, some restrictions on alcohol sales remain.
The Texas blue law was introduced in 1961 to uphold the social and religious well-being of communities. Originally, it restricted the sale of 42 specific items on consecutive weekend days (Saturday and Sunday). The original intention of blue laws was to protect Sunday as a day of worship by limiting secular and commercial activities, thus encouraging church attendance. The term "blue law" may come from the fact that these laws were transcribed onto blue paper, or it may be that "blue" was a derogatory term used to describe the puritanical nature of these regulations.
Today, Texas's blue laws still restrict the sale of alcohol on Sundays. Liquor stores must be closed on Sundays, and liquor sales are prohibited. Beer and wine can be sold in grocery and convenience stores from 10 a.m. to midnight on Sundays, but not before 10 a.m. On the other hand, bars and restaurants can serve liquor on Sundays, but only after noon, unless food is being served, in which case it can be served from 10 a.m.
Texas's alcohol laws vary across cities and counties, and there are four "dry counties" in Texas where no alcohol is sold at all. Counties and cities have the right to conduct local option elections to change certain alcohol sale rules, and there are varying cutoff times in different regions. For example, in a city or county with a population of over 800,000, establishments with a mixed beverage permit and a retailer late hours certificate can sell alcohol until 2 a.m. any day of the week.
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Grocery and convenience store sales of beer and wine
Texas has strict laws on when and where alcohol can be purchased, especially on Sundays. These laws, known as "blue laws", were originally designed to protect Sunday as a day of worship and encourage church attendance by limiting commercial activities. While many of these laws have been repealed, restrictions on alcohol sales persist.
Grocery and convenience stores in Texas are permitted to sell beer and wine during the following hours:
- Monday to Friday: 7 am to midnight
- Saturday: 7 am to 1 am on Sunday morning
- Sunday: 10 am to midnight
It is important to note that the laws governing alcohol sales in Texas can vary across cities and counties. There are also “dry counties” in Texas, which do not allow alcohol sales at all. Additionally, Texas liquor stores are closed on Sundays, as well as on major holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. If a holiday falls on a Sunday, liquor stores must remain closed on the following Monday.
On-premises consumption of alcohol, such as at bars or restaurants, has different rules. Alcohol service can begin at 10 am on Sundays if food is also ordered. If not, alcohol service must wait until noon. During live events at sports venues, festivals, fairs, or concerts, alcohol can be served as early as 10 am on Sundays, regardless of food service. Certain bars or restaurants with a “late hours” permit can serve alcohol until 2 am any night of the week.
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Liquor stores are closed on Sundays
Texas has a long and complex history of regulating the sale of alcohol. The state has strict rules about when and where alcohol, especially liquor, can be sold on Sundays. Texas's liquor laws are stricter than those for beer and wine due to liquor's higher alcohol content.
Texas's blue laws prohibit specific activities on Sundays, usually for religious reasons. These laws were initially intended to encourage rest and worship by limiting commercial activities. While many original blue laws have been repealed, restrictions on liquor sales persist due to their specific inclusion in state codes. Under the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code, the sale of alcohol on Sundays is still subject to specific restrictions.
Liquor stores in Texas are closed on Sundays, and liquor sales are prohibited. Liquor can only be purchased at bars and restaurants on Sundays in Texas. Grocery and convenience stores are allowed to sell beer and wine from 10 am to midnight on Sundays, but they are not permitted to sell liquor. These Sunday restrictions on liquor sales remain despite Texas's alcohol laws becoming more relaxed in other areas.
Texas's liquor laws also mandate that liquor stores must close on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. If Christmas or New Year's Day falls on a Sunday, liquor stores must remain closed on the following Monday. These laws are unique and can vary across cities and counties, so it is important for both residents and visitors to understand them to drink responsibly.
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Bars and restaurants can serve liquor on Sundays
Texas has a long history of regulating the sale of alcohol, with the original Texas "blue law" enacted in 1961. The blue laws were designed to uphold the social and religious well-being of communities by restricting the sale of certain items on Sundays. While many of these laws have since been repealed, restrictions on alcohol sales persist.
Texas has strict laws on when and where alcohol can be sold on Sundays. Liquor stores are closed on Sundays, and it is prohibited to sell liquor in stores on this day. However, bars and restaurants are permitted to serve alcoholic beverages, including liquor, after noon on Sundays. This means that liquor is only available for purchase at bars and restaurants in Texas on Sundays.
The specific times that alcohol can be served in bars and restaurants on Sundays depend on whether food is also being served. If you are ordering food with your drink, service can begin at 10 am. If not, you have to wait until noon. This rule applies to all types of alcoholic beverages, including beer, wine, and liquor.
It is important to note that Texas alcohol laws can vary across cities and counties. For example, certain bars or restaurants in the state can serve alcohol until 2 am any night of the week if they have a "late hours" permit. Additionally, there are four "dry counties" in Texas where no alcohol is sold at all. Therefore, it is always a good idea to check the local regulations in your area.
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Texas counties and cities have varying alcohol sale rules
Texas has a long and complex history of regulating alcohol sales, with some laws dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries. The state's blue laws, originally designed to protect Sunday as a day of worship, have been a topic of debate, with proponents arguing that they maintain community standards and values, and opponents believing they are outdated and restrictive. While many of these laws have been repealed, Texas still has strict regulations on alcohol sales, especially on Sundays.
Texas has established statewide alcohol laws, but counties and cities have the authority to amend certain rules. There are 59 "wet" counties in Texas that permit alcohol sales, and four "dry" counties that prohibit alcohol sales altogether. The sale of alcohol in Texas varies by type, day of the week, and location.
For grocery and convenience stores, beer and wine sales are permitted from 7 am to midnight, Monday through Friday, 7 am to 1 am on Saturday, and 10 am to midnight on Sunday. Liquor stores are subject to stricter regulations and are closed on Sundays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. If a holiday falls on a Sunday, they must remain closed on Monday. Liquor sales are permitted from 10 am to 9 pm, Monday through Saturday.
Bars and restaurants can serve alcohol from 7 am to midnight, Monday through Friday, 7 am to 1 am on Saturday, and noon to midnight on Sunday. However, certain bars and restaurants with a "late hours" permit can serve alcohol until 2 am any night of the week. Alcohol service can begin at 10 am on Sundays during live events at sports venues, festivals, fairs, or concerts, regardless of food service.
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Frequently asked questions
Beer and wine can be purchased from grocery and convenience stores from 10 am to midnight on Sundays.
Liquor sales are prohibited in stores on Sundays. Liquor can be purchased in bars and restaurants after noon, or from 10 am if you are ordering food.
Wineries are open from 10 am to midnight on Sundays.
Texas has strict laws on when alcohol can be purchased, especially on Sundays. These laws are known as blue laws, originally designed to protect Sunday as a day of worship and encourage church attendance by limiting commercial activities.











































