HOUSTON — If you were planning to make a trip to the liquor store before the New Year’s holiday, you missed your chance.
That’s because in Texas, state law requires liquor stores to be closed on Sundays, as well as certain holidays, including Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, according to the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. New Year's Day falls on a Monday, so that's two straight days of liquor stores being closed.
And since state law also says liquor stores can only be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, that's 61 consecutive hours that liquor stores will be closed in Texas – from 9 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 30 until 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 2.
This is the second straight year that liquor stores will close for 61 hours straight on the New Year's holiday in Texas. It happened last year as well when New Year's Day fell on a Sunday. That's because by state law, if Christmas or New Year's Day falls on a Sunday, the following Monday, they are required to be closed.
That’s just for liquor stores. There are other various hours by law for serving alcohol or selling beer and wine. You can read about those on the TABC website.
If you do plan to drink for New Year's Eve, plan a safe ride home before the party starts!