TABC to Host Roundtable With Austin-area Alcoholic Beverage Industry Members, Legislators

Local members of the alcoholic beverage industry and the Texas Legislature will join leaders from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission at a roundtable discussion October 15 in Austin. The meeting provides attendees an opportunity 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 54,000 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 2019-2020.

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.

The roundtables come at a time of transition for TABC following the Texas Legislature's adoption of the TABC Sunset Bill in May. The bill, which included sweeping changes both to the Alcoholic Beverage Code and the agency itself, was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott in June.

"The Sunset Bill is a historic piece of legislation, transforming TABC into a more efficient regulator and reducing unnecessary demands on business owners," TABC Executive Director Bentley Nettles said. "As the agency works to adopt these new requirements, 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."

WHEN: Tuesday, October 15, 9-11 a.m.

WHERE: TABC Headquarters Commission Room (1st floor), 5806 Mesa Drive, Austin

WHAT: Photographers will have the opportunity to capture video and photos from 9 a.m. – 9:10 a.m. One-on-one interviews available on request.

The Austin roundtable is one of a series of meetings taking place at locations across Texas throughout the fall. For information on roundtables in other areas, visit www.tabc.texas.gov.

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