Just saw on Fox that the TABC (Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission?) busted a bunch of Texans' tailgaters today because Texas law states that there can be no open containers or alcohol sales before noon on Sundays. Man, is this the most antiquated law on the books. It goes back to the old "blue" laws that didn't allow businesses to open on Sundays. Just wierd. I don't drink at all but I see this as just completely devoid of logic. At 11:58am, it is illegal. At 12:01pm, it's legal. Stupid. I understand prohibiting sales after midnight in stores and after 2am in clubs. By that point, there are already enough drunk people on the roads as it is. But, prohibiting the sale of and, worse yet, the consumption of alcohol prior to noon on Sundays is just stupid. If you are driving, fine; but sitting in a parking lot???
We were tailgating and there were open beers everywhere. They did nothing to stop us. It was a blast. Cops were very friendly. However, Jeff, I agree that its a stupid law. The cop asking for more "Water" (aka margaritas) seemed to agree with you.
What time is it okay to start selling on a normal day? If you have to end it at midnight, when can you start back up again? When the store opens? What if it's a 24hr store?
To me, it would make sense to shut it down at stores from midnight to 6am. I worked for a 24-hour store in high school and the deadest hours were between midnight and 6am, so that would make sense.
Busting tailgators before noon is like busting kids in a KMart parking lot at night... a potential PR nightmare.
But I don't think not selling alcohol after midnight has anything to do with it being "dead". I think it's probably a public safety issue, but I could be wrong. I was just wondering if anyone knew when alcohol sales started back up again. No comment on the Sunday before noon thing.
Oh, you're absolutely right. I mis-read your comment. As far as I know, it is midnight to noon. It can be served from, I believe, 10am to 2am. I know the cutoff time at night is 2am, but I don't know the startup for serving. I would assume it would be for brunch which is around 10am or 11am.
They knew this would happen..... did the police or texans or anyone put out a warning of this beforehand... some of the people probably had no idea it was a law..
No problem, happens all the time. It's actually an interesting topic on many levels (for me at least). Why are bars allowed to sell alcohol until 2am, but grocers only until midnight? That's a little strange.
The Texans sent out an email to season ticket holders the day before the game. Which means alot of people had no idea, total BS. At least they didnt write any tickets, at least thats what I heard on the news.
The law actually says that the "person commits an offense if he consumes or possesses with intent to consume an alcoholic beverage in a public place at any time on Sunday between 1:15 a.m. and 12 noon or on any other day between 12:15 a.m. and 7 a.m"(Sec. 105.06. HOURS OF CONSUMPTION(2)(b)). Wouldn't the parking lot of Reliant Stadium be considered private property??
Actually I heard one of the Texans PR guys a few weeks ago on 610. This issue was brought up and he said that the TABC would be out and looking for people doing just what happened today. I agree the law is a bit antiquated(sp?). CK
I wasn't sure about the status even though it was paid for with tax dollars. People should probably not be getting plastered out there before noon anyhow.
Two people attend the Texans game on Sunday. At 11:30 AM, Person 1: drinks a beer he brought from home in the parking lots, receives a citation Person 2: buys a beer for $7 at the concessions stand --- Something is wrong here...
The law is referenced in a Fan Guide the Texans sent to all season ticket holders MONTHS in advance. It's not Bob McNair's fault if a lot of season ticket holders didn't read the guide. There is a 3 or 4 page section on tailgating and it clearly says that Texas law forbids drinking in public before noon on Sundays.
The concession stands can't sell any beer before noon either. Side note: Many years ago I got cited for drinking during prohibited hours. We had a party at my apartment, which had a fenced patio which led out to the parking lot. About 2:30am, I was walking a couple of friends to their car with a beer in my hand. Just so happens a TABC official was driving thru the lot at the time and sees me. He stops and ask for my ID and commences to write me a ticket. I explained the situation, noting that my patio was only 20 feet away. He said "If you had been on your patio, you wouldn't be getting this ticket." What an *******.
Behad, I walked into Reliant about 11:15 and there were people with beer everywhere. They were selling it at all the stands, at least on my level. That doesnt make any sense, its illegal in the parking lot, but not in the stadium.
