Texas Considers Direct Sales at Microbreweries

Legislators who support the state's three-tier system of alcohol distribution are treading carefully and making sure passage would not create an economic hardship for interested parties.

April 21, 2011

AUSTIN - The Texas Senate Business and Commerce committee heard two bills earlier this week in support of craft brewers, the Austin Business Journal reports.

Senate Bill 1863 seeks to allow breweries to provide beer samples to tourists as part of a tour package, and Senate Bill 1575 would allow Texas microbrewers to sell directly to consumers onsite.

Bill 1863 appears to be on a favorable track, with proponents citing its marketing benefits and positive tourism effects. Committee Chairman John Corona said the bill text would be replaced by companion legislation, House Bill 602, which passed out of committee without objection.

Bill 1575 faces a far less certain future. Texas craft beers account for only 0.4 percent of the state??s beer sales, and its proponents maintain that passage would provide a strong boost to the industry (a similar wine-related proposal was passed allowing wineries to sell directly to the consumer, and it helped grow the state??s wine sales significantly). However, Senator Corona said he is a supporter of the three-tier system of alcohol distribution in the state, and he wants to ensure that it is not harmed.

Both bills were left pending in committee. Read more about the value of the three-tier system in NACS Magazine.

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