Quick answer: Beer sales in Texas generally stop at midnight Monday through Friday, 1:00 a.m. early Sunday morning after Saturday night, and midnight Sunday for stores and other off-premise retailers. Bars and restaurants in approved areas may serve alcohol until 2:00 a.m. if they have the appropriate late-hours authority.
If you're trying to buy beer late at night in Texas, the answer depends on the day, the type of business, and whether local rules impose additional restrictions.
Last updated: August 2026
Texas Beer Sales Cutoff Times
For most grocery stores, gas stations, convenience stores, and other authorized off-premise retailers, Texas beer sales end at:
- Midnight Monday through Friday
- 1:00 a.m. early Sunday morning after Saturday night
- Midnight Sunday
The business may stop selling earlier because of its operating hours. Local-option rules may also restrict alcohol sales in a particular city, county, or justice precinct.
Texas Beer and Wine Sales Hours
Texas grocery stores, gas stations, convenience stores, and other authorized off-premise retailers may generally sell beer and wine during these hours:
| Day | Sales begin | Sales end |
| Monday through Friday | 7:00 a.m. | Midnight |
| Saturday | 7:00 a.m. | 1:00 a.m. Sunday |
| Sunday | 10:00 a.m. | Midnight |
The extended Saturday period means stores may continue selling beer and wine until 1:00 a.m. early Sunday morning. Sales must then stop until 10:00 a.m. Sunday.
These are the maximum hours generally allowed by state law. A retailer does not have to sell alcohol during every legally permitted hour.
Source: Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission hours of sale guidance.
What Time Do Gas Stations, Grocery Stores, and Convenience Stores Stop Selling Beer?
Gas stations, grocery stores, convenience stores, and similar retailers generally follow the same hours for off-premise beer and wine sales in Texas.
That means they may sell beer and wine until midnight on most nights. On Saturday night, sales may continue until 1:00 a.m. Sunday morning.
Store hours still matter. A retailer that closes at 11:00 p.m., for example, will stop selling alcohol when the store closes even though Texas law may permit sales until midnight.
What Time Does Walmart Stop Selling Beer in Texas?
Texas Walmart locations generally must follow the same state sales-hour restrictions as other grocery stores and authorized retailers:
- Midnight Monday through Friday
- 1:00 a.m. early Sunday morning after Saturday night
- Midnight Sunday
A particular Walmart may stop selling earlier because of its store hours, licensing, or local restrictions. Texas law establishes when a retailer may sell alcohol, but it does not require every retailer to sell alcohol during those hours.
What Time Can You Buy Beer on Sunday in Texas?
Most authorized stores may begin selling beer and wine at 10:00 a.m. Sunday and continue until midnight.
The period immediately after Saturday night is treated differently. Stores may continue Saturday beer and wine sales until 1:00 a.m. Sunday. Sales must then stop until the regular Sunday period begins at 10:00 a.m.
Texas expanded Sunday off-premise beer and wine sales in 2021, moving the starting time from noon to 10:00 a.m.
Can You Buy Beer After Midnight in Texas?
Usually not at a retail store. The main statewide exception is Saturday night, when authorized stores may continue selling beer and wine until 1:00 a.m. Sunday.
Bars and restaurants operate under different rules. In an area that allows late-hours sales, an establishment with the appropriate permit may serve alcohol for on-premise consumption until 2:00 a.m.
Can You Buy Beer at 2:00 a.m. in Texas?
You generally cannot buy beer from a grocery store, gas station, Walmart, or convenience store at 2:00 a.m.
Some bars, clubs, and restaurants may serve alcohol until 2:00 a.m. if they are located in an approved late-hours area and hold the required authorization. Service must stop at 2:00 a.m.
What Time Do Liquor Stores Close in Texas?
Texas treats distilled spirits differently from beer and wine. Package stores, commonly called liquor stores, may generally sell liquor only during these hours:
| Day | Liquor-store hours |
| Monday through Saturday | 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. |
| Sunday | Closed |
Liquor stores must also close on:
- Thanksgiving Day
- Christmas Day
- New Year's Day
If Christmas Day or New Year's Day falls on a Sunday, liquor stores must also close the following Monday.
These restrictions apply to package liquor sales. They do not mean that every business serving alcoholic drinks must close on those holidays.
Source: Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code, Chapter 105.
Why Are Texas Liquor Stores Closed on Sundays?
Texas still prohibits package liquor sales on Sundays under laws commonly described as blue laws. These laws historically restricted certain types of Sunday commerce.
Texas has relaxed some of its Sunday alcohol restrictions, including allowing off-premise beer and wine sales beginning at 10:00 a.m. However, package liquor stores remain closed on Sundays.
How Late Can Texas Bars and Restaurants Serve Alcohol?
Standard on-premises alcohol service hours generally end at midnight Monday through Friday, at 1:00 a.m. on Saturday night, and at midnight on Sunday.
In approved late-hours areas, bars and restaurants with the proper authorization may continue serving alcohol until 2:00 a.m. any night of the week.
On Sunday, on-premise establishments may generally serve alcohol:
- From 10:00 a.m. to noon when alcohol is served with food
- From noon to midnight without the food-service condition
- Until 2:00 a.m. when late-hours sales are authorized
Late-hours service is not automatic. The business must be in an area where extended hours are legal and must hold the required permit or authorization.
Are Texas Alcohol Sales Hours the Same Statewide?
Texas law establishes statewide alcohol-sales hours, but alcohol availability is not identical everywhere.
Local-option elections can determine which types of alcoholic beverages may be sold and whether sales are permitted for on-premise or off-premise consumption. As a result, alcohol rules can vary by:
- County
- City
- Justice precinct
- Other local-option territory
An area may permit beer and wine sales while restricting liquor or on-premise sales. Some areas remain partially or completely dry.
If you are unsure about a retailer or a rural location, check the business's hours and local alcohol-sales status before relying solely on the statewide schedule.
Holiday Alcohol Sales in Texas
Holiday rules depend on the type of alcohol and where it is sold.
Can You Buy Beer or Wine on a Texas Holiday?
Beer and wine may generally be sold during the normal hours for that day if the retailer is open and legally authorized to sell them. A store may choose to close or reduce its hours even when alcohol sales are legally permitted.
Can You Buy Liquor on a Texas Holiday?
Texas package liquor stores must close on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. They are also closed every Sunday.
If Christmas Day or New Year's Day falls on a Sunday, package stores must remain closed the following Monday.
What Special Texas Alcohol-Sales Rules Apply?
Some businesses and venues follow different rules. A wine-only package store that holds a beer license may not sell wine containing more than 17% alcohol by volume on Sunday or after 10:00 p.m. on any day. Without a beer license, it generally follows the same sales hours as a liquor store.
Authorized hotel retailers may sell alcohol to registered hotel guests at any time, and registered guests may possess or consume alcohol in their rooms or the hotel bar at any time. Texas wineries may generally sell wine from 8:00 a.m. to midnight, Monday through Saturday, and from 10:00 a.m. to midnight, Sunday.
Licensed sellers at qualifying sports venues, festivals, fairs, and concerts may begin Sunday alcohol sales at 10:00 a.m. without serving food. Other licensing, location, and sales-hour requirements still apply.
Grocery stores and convenience stores generally may sell beer and wine, but not distilled spirits. Retail package sales of distilled spirits require the appropriate package-store permit.
Selling alcohol during prohibited hours can lead to a TABC administrative case, fines, suspension or cancellation of the business’s license or permit, and possible criminal charges for the person responsible.
Source: Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission guidance.
Texas Alcohol Laws and Official Sources
Texas alcohol sales are regulated by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission under the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code. Because sales hours can depend on the beverage, permit, business type, and local-option status, consumers should check current TABC guidance and local restrictions when unusual circumstances apply.
Official resources:
Note: This article was written by Ben Michael (Texas Bar Card No. 24088055), Managing Partner of Michael & Associates Criminal Defense Attorneys. It was originally published on August 5, 2024, and has been reviewed for accuracy by Michael & Associates' research team and staff attorneys.
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