AUSTIN (WBAP/KLIF News) – Bar owners received some relief from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission this week amid ongoing closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The TABC voted this week to pave the way for more bars to reopen and operate as restaurants.
The new rules struck down a requirement for an on-site kitchen and allows bars to count sales from pre-packaged food and food trucks as sales revenue.
The goal is to help bars get their total food sales revenue above the 51% threshold needed to qualify for a food and beverage permit.
Under Governor Abbott’s current COVID-19 restrictions, bars that are not reclassified as restaurants must remain closed. Restaurants are now allowed to operate at 50% capacity.
The TABC amendment states that it “may adopt an emergency rule without prior notice or hearing upon finding that imminent peril to the public health, safety, or welfare requires adoption on fewer than 30 days’ notice.” It adds those emergency rules adopted may be effective for no more than 120 days and may be renewed for longer than 60 days.
On its website, the TABC said that without the new measures, many establishments would have stayed closed and can now operate in a safe manner.
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