Texas New Year's alcohol rules: What to know in 2025

Olamaie's is stocked with various alcoholic drinks. Sept. 12, 2022.
Aaron E. Martinez / American-Statesman, Austin American-Statesman

The New Year is a time to toast, count down and maybe pour something stronger than sparkling cider. If you’re celebrating in Texas, here’s what to know about alcohol laws as the calendar flips.

Are liquor stores open on New Year’s?

No — not on New Year’s Day. But you can purchase liquor on New Year’s Eve.

Texas law requires liquor stores to close every Sunday and on three holidays: Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. With standard store hours limited to 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Saturday, that means the last chance to buy liquor is New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31, before 9 p.m.

If champagne or bourbon are a part of your midnight plans, don’t wait until Jan. 1.

What about drinks at bars and restaurants?

Bars and restaurants can serve alcohol on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, as long as they’re open.

The JW Marriott hotel sold the most alcohol in Austin in November, with receipts totaling $1.2 million. [AMERICAN-STATESMAN FILE]
Austin American-Statesman

New Year’s Eve is not treated like a Sunday, so normal service hours apply. Many bars stay open late, and it’s legal to serve alcohol past midnight as New Year’s Day begins.

If Jan. 1 falls on a Sunday, then standard Sunday rules apply: alcohol service begins at noon and service can start at 10 a.m. if food is ordered.

Beer and wine rules

The co-owners of Batch Craft Beer and Kolaches have opened a neighboring brewery with offerings that trend toward low-in-alcohol fruited ales like Sjofen, second from right, a strawberry farmhouse ale that looks like a smoothie but is a distinctly dry, aromatic beer. [Arianna Auber / AMERICAN-STATESMAN]
Austin 360

Beer and wine follow different rules than liquor, and therefor can be sold on New Year’s Day. Grocery and convenience stores can sell beer and wine starting at 7 a.m.

Liquor sales remain prohibited all day

What’s actually open on New Year’s Day?

Alcohol isn’t the best way to cope with a stressful holiday, experts agree.
Austin American-Statesman

Availability depends on the business — many retailers operate on reduced holiday hours.

Likely open (hours may vary by store):

• H-E-B
• Most CVS and Walgreens locations
• Walmart and Target
• Convenience stores and gas stations, including Buc-ee’s

Likely closed:

• Costco — all locations
• Trader Joe’s — all locations

New Year’s alcohol cheat sheet

New Year’s Eve:

• Liquor, beer and wine sales all run as normal

New Year’s Day:

• Beer & wine — Allowed starting at 7 a.m.
• Liquor sales — Not allowed
• Liquor store — Closed statewide
• Bars & restaurants — Open if the business chooses
• Grocery & convenience stores — Many open with reduced hours

Dec 31, 2025