Articles
TABC posts interesting and informative articles about the agency and how the alcoholic beverage industry in Texas works.
INDUSTRY NOTICE: Avoiding tier violations when using B2B e-commerce platforms
To: TABC-licensed and -permitted distributors, wholesalers, retailers, and stakeholders Re: Avoiding tier violations when using B2B e-commerce platforms TABC is aware that multiple business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce platforms have entered the Texas market, and some retailers are using these platforms to place or facilitate their alcoholic beverage orders with distributors and wholesalers. The agency is also aware that some distributors and wholesalers have contracted with e-commerce platforms to serve as one of the wholesaler’s or distributor’s designated ordering platforms. This is a significant development in Texas’s alcoholic beverage industry, so I want to take this opportunity to stress to all interested parties that TABC still enforces a strict separation between the manufacturing, wholesaling, and retailing levels of the industry. Members of the industry remain free to run their respective businesses as they see fit, within the confines of the law; however, a member of one tier of the industry may not manage or control the business or interests of a member of another tier. To that point, if a retailer attempted to force a distributor or wholesaler to use or accept orders from a particular e-commerce platform, that may constitute a violation of the Alcoholic Beverage Code (“Code”). TABC will investigate such allegations for potential enforcement action. While e-commerce platform operators are generally not licensed by TABC, they must still abide by the Code. If a platform operator changes, redirects, or otherwise interferes with the fulfillment of an alcoholic beverage order placed by a retailer, TABC will investigate to determine if a violation occurred. TABC’s goal is to provide a healthy regulatory environment for the Texas alcoholic beverage industry to ensure public safety while also supporting businesses. The emergence of e-commerce platforms does not change that goal, and we will closely monitor how these platforms operate to help ensure the health of the industry and the safety of Texans. If you have questions regarding this letter, please contact TABC in writing at P.O. Box 13127, Austin, TX 78711; by email at marketing.practices@tabc.texas.gov; or by phone at 512-206-3411. Sincerely, Thomas W. Graham Executive Director
Read moreWinery Study published on TABC website
The 88th Texas Legislature directed the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission to study the privileges granted to winery permits and other wine industry issues, and to report the findings to the Legislature by Aug. 31, 2024. In conducting this study, TABC analyzed various data, gathered input from alcoholic beverage businesses and trade associations, reviewed wine regulations in other states, and consulted with the Texas Department of Agriculture and the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. As of Aug. 30, 2024, TABC has completed and submitted the report to the Texas Legislature, and it is now available on the agency's website. Access the report by visiting TABC Reports and Publications or by downloading it below. TABC extends its gratitude to the Texas Department of Agriculture, the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, and all stakeholders who contributed to this study.
Read moreTABC calls for 2025 Hall of Honor nominations
TABC is calling for nominations of retired TABC employees, living or deceased, for induction into the agency’s Hall of Honor. Throughout TABC’s history, great leaders and public servants have dedicated their careers to protecting public health and safety while supporting businesses in a vital industry. Since TABC established the Hall of Honor in 2020, five employees have been inducted for their dedication. The deadline for nominations is Monday, Sept. 30, 2024.
Read moreIndustry Notice: TABC accepting comments on Winery Permit Study through Aug. 16
TABC developed a draft report studying the privileges granted to winery permits and other issues relating to the wine industry, as directed by the 88th Texas Legislature. Before TABC submits the report to the Legislature at the end of August, the agency is giving stakeholders the chance to review it and provide input. Submit your written comments to TABC staff at stakeholder@tabc.texas.gov by Aug. 16, 2024 (the original deadline was Aug. 8).
Read moreAgenda posted for May 14 commission meeting
A regular meeting of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission is scheduled for Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. Central time.
Read moreCompliance reporting deadline extended to May 31
You must conduct and file a compliance report (i.e., self-inspection) for each of your TABC licenses and permits listed above between Jan. 1 and March 31 each year. Failure to timely file your report(s) could result in a warning, fine, or the inability to renew your license or permit. However, TABC is extending the deadline to May 31 this year as businesses are conducting their reports within the Alcohol Industry Management System (AIMS) for the first time, and certain license/permit holders could not access the new compliance reporting feature initially. Some users also needed more time to set up their accounts properly for the compliance reporting feature. All licensed and permitted premises in Texas should begin conducting compliance reports now — including Package Store Permit (P), Wine and Malt Beverage Retailer's Permit (BG), or Brewer's License (BW) with subordinate permits such as a Local Cartage Permit, Brewpub License, Late Hours Certificate, and more. If you have already completed and submitted an annual compliance report for each of your licensed and permitted locations in Texas this year, thank you! No further action is needed.
Read moreINDUSTRY NOTICE: It's time to conduct annual compliance reports
You are required to conduct a compliance report (i.e., self-inspection) for each of your licensed/permitted locations in Texas. The report requires your business to answer a series of questions about its operations and take certain photos at its premises to confirm it is following applicable laws. When: Begin and complete your compliance report(s) anytime between *Jan. 1 and March 31, 2024. *EXCEPTION: For holders of any primary license/permit that is accompanied by a combination of subordinates and/or certificates as displayed below, you may not begin your compliance report on Jan. 1. Instead, we will contact you later in 2024 and will provide you with a different reporting period. Permit combinations that begin their report(s) on a later date P + LP BG + BP + E BG + E BG + BP + FB + E BG + FB +E BG + BP + LH + E BG + LH + E BG + BP + FB + LH + E BG + FB + LH + E BW + SD If you hold a P, BG, or BW by itself (without the above combination of subordinates and/or certificates), you are still required to file your compliance report between Jan. 1 and March 31, 2024. It is only if you have one of the above combinations that you will begin your reports at a later date that TABC will provide you. For example, a Package Store Permit (P) without an LP must file their report between Jan. 1 and March 31, as will the holder of a BG that doesn’t have any subordinates or certificates. How: Conduct your compliance report by using the Alcohol Industry Management System (AIMS) on your Android or Apple mobile device.
Read moreINDUSTRY NOTICE: Annual compliance reporting period starts Jan. 1
To: Holders of BW, BB, BC, BE, BF, BG, BQ, D, G, MB, N, NB, NE, P, Q, W, and X licenses and permits Re: Required compliance reporting for TABC-licensed businesses with Texas locations starts soon What: You are required to conduct a compliance report (i.e., self-inspection) for each of your licensed/permitted locations in Texas. The report requires your business to answer a series of questions about its operations and take certain photos at the premises to confirm the business is following applicable laws. When: Begin and complete your compliance report(s) anytime between Jan. 1, 2024, and March 31, 2024. * *Exceptions: For holders of any primary license/permit that is accompanied by a combination of subordinates and/or certificates as displayed in the table below, do NOT begin your compliance report on Jan. 1. Instead, we will contact you later in 2024 to provide you with a different reporting period. Permit combinations that begin their report(s) on a later date P + LP BG + BP + E BG + E BG + BP + FB + E BG + FB +E BG + BP + LH + E BG + LH + E BG + BP + FB + LH + E BG + FB + LH + E BW + SD If you hold a P, BG, or BW by itself (without the above combination of subordinates and/or certificates), you are still required to file your compliance report between Jan. 1 and March 31, 2024. It is only if you have one of the above combinations that you will begin your reports at a later date that TABC will provide you. For example, a Package Store Permit (P) without an LP must file their report between Jan. 1 and March 31, as will the holder of a BG that doesn’t have any subordinates or certificates. How: Conduct your compliance report by using the Alcohol Industry Management System (AIMS) on your mobile device.
Read moreReminder: LPs must switch to new tax ID stamp portal
TABC wants to ensure that holders of a Local Distributor Permit (LP) are using the new online ordering portal for tax ID stamps, which launched in February 2023. The new tax ID stamps system is provided by OpSec Security. Please delete the previous tax ID stamps system link from your records and do not log in to the old system. Any stamps ordered from the old system are still valid. The image below shows how the new system’s log-in screen looks:
Read moreINDUSTRY NOTICE: Sept. 1 deadline for in-state brewers and brewpubs to register malt beverages with TTB COLA and alcohol content
To: Holders of a Brewer’s License (BW) or Brewpub License (BP) Starting Sept. 1, 2023, in-state brewers and brewpubs must ensure that the alcohol by volume (ABV) is displayed on all malt beverage products that were registered before Sept. 1, 2021, and are still being sold in the stream of distribution. Each product must also have an approved Certificate of Label Approval (COLA) from the U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) on file with TABC.
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