36 Texas House Members Support Waiver of Bottle Limits for Distillers

May 12, 2020

The Honorable Greg Abbott Office of the Governor
P.O. Box 12428
Austin, Texas 78711-2428

RE: Request to Suspend Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code § 14.05(c)
Dear Governor Abbott:

On behalf of our constituents, we respectfully ask you to suspend Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code § 14.05(c) so that Texas distillers may sell more than two bottles per person within 30 days at their distilleries.

We have heard from many concerned constituents that efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 may force the closure of some Texas distilleries. As you know, the state has seen tremendous growth in its distilling industry in the last decade, going from fewer than 50 distillery permits in 2013 to more than 160 today. Because many of these distilleries are young businesses, their products are not yet widely distributed in package stores. Thus, Texas distilleries rely on sales from their tasting rooms to provide the capital necessary to build their businesses and create jobs.

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the closure of tasting rooms for over a month, preventing Texans from visiting tasting rooms and purchasing bottles and mixed drinks. As a result, Texas distillers have experienced an 80 percent loss of revenue since COVID-19 mitigation efforts have been instituted. Limited cocktail sales and the two bottle purchase restrictions make it impossible for distillers to generate the revenue necessary to support their operations and employees.

Suspending the restriction on bottle sales is critical to helping this young industry financially survive this pandemic. Distillers estimate that suspending the two bottle limit will increase curbside sales by 35 percent and allow them to re-hire staff — a critical need in this time of rampant unemployment.

Texas distillers are entrepreneurs who care about the wellbeing of their communities and our great state. To date, they have donated over 200,000 gallons of hand and surface sanitizer to first responders, health care workers, and their communities. And now they need our help.