Texans looking to enjoy a liquor-laden toast this New Year's Eve might need to stock up sooner rather than later. State laws are enforcing a 61-hour shutdown of liquor stores during the holiday, with doors closing at 9 p.m. on Saturday and not reopening until Tuesday at 10 a.m. This dry spell is due to the Texas Liquor Control Act, harking back to 1935, prohibiting these stores from operating on Sundays and major holidays, as reported by KXAN.
There's a silver lining for those content with beer or wine, as in 2021, Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill into law allowing for their sale to start at 10 a.m. on Sundays, providing some leeway within the stringent Texas Liquor Control Act, as per KXAN.
"I'm glad I'm here today to buy it. New Year's must be a big day for people to buy liquor, that's not a great day to be closed," shopper Arun Chatterje said, according to KXAN.
As the New Year heralds a sober start for the Texan masses, the status quo remains for now. With restrictions firmly in place, those looking to celebrate with a glass in hand have had to navigate these familiar regulatory hurdles once again, reinforcing a tradition of preparation amidst the holiday celebrations.
