Divisions

TABC’s core leadership team is made up of the executive director, deputy executive director, chief of Regulatory Affairs, executive chief of Enforcement and general counsel.

The Office of General Counsel provides legal services for the agency, including representing TABC in administrative hearings, drafting rules, responding to open records requests, managing litigation involving the agency, and providing legal advice to agency leadership and staff.

The Licensing Department investigates and processes applications for all phases of the industry including the manufacture, product registration, sale, purchase, transportation, storage, and distribution of alcoholic beverages.

Customer service is a priority for the department, as its staff are often the first contact a member of the public has with TABC. Licensing staff must ensure that each applicant qualifies to hold such license or permit and adheres to all applicable regulatory requirements. Licenses and permits are issued for two years. On average, 78,000 licenses and permits are issued each year by the Licensing Department. 

The agency’s product registration team is also part of the licensing team and is responsible for approving registrations for products sold in Texas.

The Audit and Investigations Department primarily consists of auditors who conduct investigations, financial reviews, and inspections during the initial phases of the licensing process. This team also assists the Law Enforcement Department with its investigations, monitors and regulates cash and credit law, and helps monitor seller training schools to ensure compliance with TABC standards and the Alcoholic Beverage Code. Department personnel also receive, process, and audit monthly excise tax reports to ensure appropriate taxes have been paid and that other reporting requirements are met.

Auditors provide training to permit holders and their employees by request and in response to violations by a permit holder. They promote education and prevention of underage drinking to students through presentations at middle schools, high schools, and universities. Presentations are also given to civic organizations to promote a better understanding of the law and TABC's roles and responsibilities.

The department also includes TABC’s excise tax team, which processes required reports from alcoholic beverage manufacturers and distributors.

The department promotes the alcoholic beverage industry’s voluntary compliance with marketing practices regulations. This includes adopting and amending the official guidance of the agency, known as Marketing Practices Advisories, by soliciting feedback and making changes similar to the rulemaking process.       

TABC’s Law Enforcement Department is charged with executing the agency’s law enforcement and investigations missions in support of public safety. The department employs most of the agency’s commissioned peace officers and works to investigate crimes and legal violations connected to licensed locations from operating after hours to human trafficking.  A distinction between open operations and undercover operations separates the department and unit efforts within Enforcement.

Enforcement agents also provide training to permit holders and their employees by request and in response to violations by permit holders. Certified peace officers collaborate with and give presentations to other law enforcement agencies to promote a better understanding of the law and the roles and responsibilities of TABC.

The Ports of Entry Department is responsible for enforcing personal importation laws and collecting taxes and fees on alcoholic beverages and cigarettes brought into Texas from other countries through the state's ports of entry. Cigarette taxes are collected on behalf of the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.

In addition to tax collection, regulatory compliance officers play a vital role in protecting public health and safety by preventing minors from importing alcohol into Texas and stopping illicit products, which may be harmful for consumption, from entering the Texas market. These public safety duties include disallowing alcoholic beverages from minors. The officers are stationed at all major bridges along the Texas-Mexico border and at the Galveston seaport.

The Business Services Division is responsible for all fiscal operations of the agency, including:

• Revenue processing
• Accounts payable
• Payroll
• Time and leave accounting
• Budget, research, and planning
• Travel services and reporting
• Preparation and oversight of TABC’s legislative appropriations requests and annual financial report.

The division’s General Services Section is responsible for:

• Purchasing
• Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUB)
• Real asset property management
• Facilities leasing
• Fleet management
• Mail center operations
• Warehousing

The Human Resources Division manages employment-related policies and programs, including recruitment, selection, benefits and compensation, classification, employee relations, and emergency risk management. Human Resources also manages the ethics and equal employment opportunity programs.

The Innovation and Technology Division (ITD) is responsible for developing and maintaining the core technology applications for the agency. ITD establishes and supports the technology infrastructure that facilitates agency operations and is charged with researching and analyzing new technologies to solve business problems and increase efficiencies across the agency.

The Office of Inspector General oversees or conducts all internal investigations concerning the conduct of agency employees. 

The Strategic Initiatives and Performance Improvement (SIPI) Division was initially formed to implement wholesale changes to the agency as a result of the Sunset process. SIPI is now responsible for implementation of legislation and audit recommendations; strategic planning and performance measures reporting; and management of the rulemaking process and policy program, as well as evaluation of structures, processes, and programs for efficiency and effectiveness.

The Training Division helps the agency better serve Texans by developing innovative initiatives and maintaining inclusive training for staff, law enforcement, and TABC-licensed businesses. By strengthening employee leadership skills and growing partnerships, the division prepares the agency to adapt to new challenges and the growth of the state and the alcoholic beverage industry. Training for TABC agents and other commissioned peace officers keeps up with the latest trends in law enforcement and complies with Texas Commission on Law Enforcement training standards and mandates.

The TABC Training Division also educates law enforcement, agency partners, the public, alcohol retailers and their employees about Texas laws associated with selling and consuming alcoholic beverages. And, the Training team leads the agency’s efforts to prevent underage drinking and driving while intoxicated.

• The Communications Department is responsible for executing the agency’s internal and external communications plan — disseminating information to agency staff, the regulated alcoholic beverage industry, the news media, and the public at large. The department maintains the agency’s public website; develops communication materials, graphics, and videos; livestreams TABC’s public meetings; and engages with the news media of behalf of the agency.
• The External Affairs Department is responsible for overseeing TABC’s engagement with the alcoholic beverage industry. The department executes outreach initiatives with the alcoholic beverage industry and coordinates TABC’s engagement in external events across Texas. It serves as a central point of contact for the agency’s stakeholders and works to ensure the agency systematically resolves stakeholder issues in a fair and reasonable manner.
• The Government Relations Department is responsible for establishing and overseeing TABC’s relationship and communications with government officials and their staff, including the Texas Legislature, the Governor, and other government agencies. The department works to address inquiries from government officials and proactively informs them of agency activities. It also coordinates TABC’s participation in Texas’s legislative sessions.