In 1919, during the Prohibition period, alcohol was banned in the United States with the passage of the 18th Amendment to the United States Constitution. But in 1933 the 21st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution repealed the 18th Amendment, and gave states the power to enact their own laws regarding the production, distribution, and sale of alcohol.
Today, each state—and in some cases, each municipality or county—has its own regulations regarding the sale and shipment of all alcoholic beverages. When shipping alcohol across state borders, both the law of the state from which the shipment is made and the law of the state in which it is received are relevant. And the commercial carriers such as UPS, FedEx, and DHL only ship alcohol to and from licensed manufacturers, distributors, sellers, and importers.
In Texas, the regulation of alcohol is governed by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code, which is enforced by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC). The state allows for the sale of beer, wine, and liquor through various types of licensed establishments, including package stores, grocery stores, and restaurants, with specific rules on hours of operation and days of sale. For instance, liquor sales are prohibited on Sundays. When it comes to shipping alcohol, Texas law permits in-state wineries to ship wine directly to consumers, but there are restrictions on out-of-state retailers shipping alcohol into Texas. Only licensed entities may legally ship alcohol into, out of, or within the state, and they must comply with TABC regulations. Commercial carriers require a valid license or permit from both the shipper and the recipient when handling alcohol shipments. It's important for anyone involved in the shipment or sale of alcohol to understand both Texas law and the laws of the destination state to ensure compliance.
