BYOB establishments are a popular business model in Texas. Patrons can bring their own alcohol in if they’d like, but the restaurant itself doesn’t serve alcohol. Unlike a traditional restaurant that serves alcohol and must obtain a TABC license in Dallas, TX, a BYOB restaurant does not have to be certified to serve alcohol. However, a TABC license can certainly help by providing essential training to employers and staff. Whether or not you decide on TABC certification, there are several things operators of BYOB restaurants need to know.

Public Consumption Legal Hours

BYOB restaurants are still subject to legal hours of public consumption laws. Just because you are not serving alcohol at your establishment, it doesn’t mean you’re not responsible for what guests are drinking on your premises. Generally, legal hours of public consumption are 7:00 a.m. to 12:15 a.m. Monday to Friday, with extended hours of 1:15 a.m. for Saturday or 2:15 a.m. if the area is legal for extended hours. However, you’ll want to check your own area and county for more specific rules.

Public Intoxication Laws

Texas alcohol laws still apply in your establishment, even if you’re not the entity supplying the drinks. That means you’re responsible for what your patrons bring in and drink, including their age and behavior.

The minimum age to possess or drink alcohol in Texas is 21. This means that even though you’re not serving guests, you’ll still need to check the ID of everyone drinking. Though it is legal for minors to consume alcohol while with their parent or guardian, you can still prohibit this from happening in your restaurant.

You can always disallow minors or anyone who is clearly intoxicated from drinking on your premises. In fact, public intoxication is also against the law, even when customers are serving themselves, and you can be held responsible.

Legal Limits of Volume

You’ll need to read up on the laws regarding volume and types of acceptable beverages for BYOB establishments before allowing alcohol on your premises. Since there are no statewide BYOB laws, you’ll need to check with your county and neighborhood for regulations. For instance, if an establishment has a private club permit or mixed beverage permit, customers can not bring their own alcohol. If you are a strictly BYOB establishment, there still might be rules that need to be followed. Learning about these laws is another reason to consider a obtaining a TABC license in Dallas, TX

Profit on BYOB

Finally, there are still ways you can make a profit using the BYOB business model. When customers are bringing in their own alcohol and serving themselves to complement their meal, you may think you’ve passed up on making a profit on their drinking, but there are a number of ways you can benefit from their consumption.

One easy way to do so is to charge a fee for bringing alcohol, often called a corkage fee when customers bring their own bottle of wine. Another way to profit is by selling setups, including the right glassware, ice or mixers to complement the alcohol they brought in.

For more information, or if you have questions about obtaining a TABC license, reach out to the consultants at LaBarba Permit Service to discuss the TABC license in Dallas, TX.