Texas · TX · Food & drink
Texas: Are happy hour drink specials legal?
Allowed with limits
Texas allows happy hours, but drink prices cannot be reduced after 11 p.m., and two-for-one and all-you-can-drink deals are banned.
A TABC rule lists banned on-premises promotions. Bars may not cut drink prices after 11 p.m., sell two or more drinks for the price of one, serve more than two drinks to one person at a time, or sell unlimited drinks for a fixed price. Free drinks to a whole group are limited, and drinking games with alcohol prizes are banned. Some private events, hotel packages, and pitchers for two or more people are exempt.
Conditions
- No reduced drink prices after 11 p.m.
- No two-for-one or multiple drinks for one price
- No more than two drinks to one customer at a time
- No unlimited drinks for a fixed price
What the law says
Licensees and permittees authorized to sell or serve alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption may not: ... reduce drink prices after 11:00 p.m.;
Sources
- 16 Tex. Admin. Code § 45.103 (On-Premises Promotions) Mirror of official text · law.cornell.edu
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC)
- Phone
- 512-206-3333
- Website
- tabc.texas.gov
How bordering states compare
- Arkansas Allowed with limitsArkansas has no happy hour rule as such, but retailers may not offer coupons, rebates, or other inducements to buy alcohol.
- Louisiana Allowed with limitsLouisiana allows drink specials but bans 'all you can drink' pricing after 10 p.m.
- New Mexico Allowed with limitsNew Mexico allows drink discounts but bans unlimited-drink deals, two-for-one offers, and drinks sold at less than half price.
- Oklahoma Allowed with limitsOklahoma now lets bars offer drink specials at any hour, but bans unlimited drinks for one price and group-only discounts.