What Time Do They Stop Selling Beer in Texas? (2026 Hours)

Quick answer: Beer sales in Texas stop at midnight Monday through Friday, 1:00 a.m. early Sunday morning (Saturday night), and midnight on Sunday.

If you’re trying to buy beer late at night in Texas, timing matters, especially on weekends.

Last updated, March 2026

Key Takeaways

Beer and wine are usually available earlier and on Sundays
Liquor stores are closed on Sundays and major holidays
Bars and restaurants can usually serve later, often up to 2 a.m.
Local rules matter: Sales hours may vary in some locations due to local ordinances

What Time Do They Stop Selling Beer in Texas?

Beer sales in Texas stop at:

Midnight (Monday–Friday)
1:00 a.m. (early Sunday morning / Saturday night)
Midnight on Sunday

Beer sales begin at:

7:00 a.m. Monday–Saturday
10:00 a.m. Sunday

Beer Sales Hours in Texas (Exact Legal Times)

Day	Start Time	Stop Time
Monday–Friday	7:00 a.m.	Midnight
Saturday	7:00 a.m.	1:00 a.m. (Sunday morning)
Sunday	10:00 a.m.	Midnight

Can You Buy Beer in Texas Right Now?

Before 7:00 a.m.? No
7:00 a.m. to midnight? Yes
After midnight? No (except until 1:00 a.m. Saturday night)
Sunday before 10:00 a.m.? No

When Can You Buy Wine or Liquor in Texas?

The laws differ based on the type of beer, wine, or alcohol you’re looking to purchase, and can even impact whether or not you can order a drink at a bar.

Here is a quick summary of when wine and liquor are sold in Texas:

Liquor stores in Texas are closed on Sundays. — *Food service required with alcohol between 10 a.m. and noon
**Source:** Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC), excludes holidays

Alcohol Type	Store Hours	Bar / Restaurant Hours
Wine	Mon-Fri: 7 am to midnight Sat: 7 am to 1 am Sun: 10 am to midnight	Standard hours: Mon–Fri: 7 a.m.–midnight Sat: 7 a.m.–1 a.m. Sun: 10 a.m.–midnight With a late-hours permit: Up to 2 a.m.
Liquor	Mon-Fri: 10 am to 9 pm Sat: 10 am to 9 pm Sun: No Sales	Same as beer and wine hours

When Can You Buy Beer and Wine in Texas?

Beer and wine are sold under Texas law based on whether the sale is for off-premise consumption (e.g., grocery stores and gas stations) or on-premise consumption (e.g., bars and restaurants). Grocery stores, gas stations, and convenience stores do not sell liquor.

Grocery Stores, Gas Stations, and Convenience Stores (Off-Premise)

Monday–Friday: 7:00 a.m. to midnight
Saturday: 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. (Sunday morning)
Sunday: 10:00 a.m. to midnight

They cannot sell outside legal hours.

You can buy beer and wine at grocery stores, but only until midnight (or 1 a.m. on Sunday morning).

Restaurants and Bars (On-Premise)

These are venues that hold an on-premises license or permit. They can sell any type of alcoholic beverage (including liquor) as long as it will be consumed on-site. Certain bars or restaurants may serve until 2 a.m. any night of the week if they have a “late-hours” permit. Otherwise, they can sell from:

Standard hours:

Monday to Friday: 7:00 a.m. to midnight
Saturday: 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.
Sunday:

10:00 a.m. to noon: with food purchase only
Noon to midnight: no food purchase required

Service may continue until 2:00 a.m. if the venue has a late-hours permit.

Hotel Bars

Some hotels with the proper permits may serve registered guests outside standard hours.

To be considered a “bar,” a hotel must have a regular dining room frequented daily by customers. If a hotel doesn’t meet the state’s criteria, it will be limited to the same sales hours as restaurants and bars.

Wineries

Texas wineries must have a different type of permit that allows them to sell wine to consumers for on- or off-premise consumption and conduct off-premise deliveries to consumers. They are allowed to operate:

Monday through Saturday: 8 a.m. to midnight
Sunday: 10 a.m. to midnight

Sports Venues, Festivals, Fairs, and Concerts

Licensed or permitted vendors located at sports venues, festivals, fairs, and concert venues can sell alcohol on-premises during the following hours:

Monday through Friday: 7 a.m. to midnight
Saturday: 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Sunday morning
Sunday: 10 a.m. to midnight

READ MORE: Texas drinking laws

Why Does Texas Stop Selling Beer at Midnight?

Texas alcohol laws are set by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code, which establishes statewide sales hours.
These rules are partly rooted in older “blue laws,” but modern updates (including 2021 changes) expanded Sunday beer and wine sales starting at 10:00 a.m.

You can't buy liquor at all on Sundays or major holidays.

What About Liquor?

Liquor refers to distilled alcoholic beverages such as whiskey, vodka, rum, gin, tequila, and brandy. Liquor stores must hold a permit to sell liquor for off-premise consumption.

Liquor (distilled spirits) follows different rules:

Sales are typically permitted:

Monday–Saturday: 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Sunday: No sales

Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code, Chapter 105, states that liquor stores (package stores) must close on:

Sundays
Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Day
New Year’s Day

Additionally, if any of the above holidays falls on a Sunday, sales are also banned the following Monday.

Alcohol Sales in Texas

Alcohol is more broadly defined, including all types of alcoholic beverages. Regulations and hours differ depending on the item you want to purchase and whether it’s served for on-premise consumption (restaurants, bars) or off-premise (grocery and convenience stores).

Specific hours can also vary by city or county. Three Texas counties don’t allow alcohol sales at all. These are called “dry counties.”

According to the TABC, Texas's remaining "dry" counties are:

Borden County
Kent County
Roberts County

Why Does Texas Ban Alcohol Sales on Sundays?

Texas still doesn’t sell liquor on Sundays because of “blue laws.” Blue laws are legislation typically based on religious principles to enforce moral standards, such as restricting or banning certain Sunday activities.

Over time, many blue laws are being phased out. Though Texas’s laws regarding alcohol sales have been relaxed, now allowing for extended alcohol sales on Sundays, in-store sampling events, and sales of alcohol-to-go from bars and restaurants, the Sunday ban on liquor sales has remained.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a blue law?

Blue laws prohibit specific activities on Sundays, typically for religious reasons. They were initially intended to encourage rest and worship. These laws usually restrict business operations or limit recreational activities on Sundays and/or religious holidays.

Blue laws prohibit Texas stores from selling alcohol on Sundays. The state’s blue laws also limit when auto dealerships can be open. Dealerships are prohibited from operating on both Saturday and Sunday. Texas Occupations Code §2301.476 specifies that they must be closed on one weekend day. Most choose to be closed on Sunday.

What is the legal drinking age in Texas?

The legal drinking age in Texas is 21. This aligns with federal law. This means individuals must be at least 21 years old to purchase or publicly consume alcoholic beverages legally.

However, minors may legally consume alcohol if they are in the visible presence of a parent, legal guardian, or spouse who is 21 or older.

When do they stop selling beer in Texas?

Beer sales stop at:

Midnight Monday–Friday
1:00 a.m. early Sunday morning (Saturday night)
Midnight on Sunday night

What time can you buy beer in Texas during the week?

7:00 a.m. Monday through Saturday.

Can you buy beer after midnight in Texas?

No. Beer sales stop at midnight most nights, except they extend to 1:00 a.m. early Sunday morning (Saturday night).

Can you buy beer at 2 a.m. in Texas?

No for stores. Yes, for bars only if they have a late-hours permit.

What time can you buy beer on Sunday in Texas?

10:00 a.m.

Why can’t you buy beer before 10 a.m. on Sunday?

Texas law restricts Sunday morning alcohol sales unless served with food in certain on-premise settings.

Are Texas alcohol laws the same statewide?

Retail beer and wine hours are mostly consistent statewide, but local laws can affect availability and bar hours.

When do they stop selling alcohol in Texas?

Retail beer and wine sales stop at midnight most nights (1:00 a.m. Saturday night). Liquor stores close at 9:00 p.m. and are closed Sunday.

Can gas stations sell beer after midnight in Texas?

No. Gas stations cannot sell outside legal hours, so sales typically end at midnight (or 1:00 a.m. Saturday night).

Sources: This article is based on Michael & Associates' research, with guidance from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) and the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code, including rules governing:

Legal sales hours by license type
Sunday service limitations
Holiday liquor store closures
Local-option wet/dry restrictions

Note: This article was written by Ben Michael, Managing Partner of Michael & Associates (Texas Bar Card #24088055). It was originally published on August 5, 2024, and has been reviewed for accuracy by Michael & Associates' research team and staff attorneys.