If you live in Texas or you’re just passing through, it can get confusing trying to remember the exact times when stores can and cannot sell beer. Texas has a mix of statewide rules, weekend restrictions, and special Sunday rules. The schedule is much simpler than it used to be but there are still a few details you should know so you don’t get stuck at the register after cutoff time.
Here’s the full breakdown of beer-sale hours in Texas for off-premise stores like grocery stores, gas stations and convenience stores, along with the rules for bars and restaurants.
Beer Sale Hours in Texas (Off-Premise Stores)
These rules apply to:
✔ Grocery stores
✔ Gas stations
✔ Convenience stores
✔ Supermarkets
✔ Any place where you buy sealed beer to take home
→ Monday–Friday:
7:00 a.m. – 12:00 midnight
→ Saturday:
7:00 a.m. – 1:00 a.m. (Sunday morning) (Saturday night sales can extend one extra hour past midnight.)
→ Sunday:
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 midnight
Important Legal Nuance
This confuses a lot of Texans, so here it is clearly:
- Off-premise stores (grocery stores, gas stations) may start selling beer at 10:00 a.m. on Sundays — without any food purchase requirement.
- The “food service” rule applies only to on-premise service (bars and restaurants) when serving alcohol between 10:00 a.m. and noon.
- Off-premise retailers do not need to sell food with beer on Sunday mornings anymore.
This is the updated statewide standard.
Beer Sales at Bars and Restaurants (On-Premise)
Bars and restaurants follow slightly different rules because they can sell alcohol for on-site consumption.
→ Monday–Saturday:
7:00 a.m. – 2:00 a.m.
→ Sunday:
- 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon: Alcohol can be served only with food
- 12:00 noon – 2:00 a.m.: Normal alcohol service
This “with food before noon” rule applies only to on-premise consumption, not to store-bought beer.
Why Texas Has These Rules
The alcohol rules in Texas come from a mix of state laws and old “blue laws” that historically restricted Sunday sales. In 2021, Texas loosened many of these restrictions, allowing Sunday morning sales to begin earlier. By 2025, the schedule has stabilized into the pattern above.
Local Exceptions
Most counties follow the statewide rules exactly, but a few Texas cities and counties have extended hours permits that allow later service in bars or certain entertainment districts.
