Texas craft breweries that also operate restaurants relieved after Governor Greg Abbott announced over the weekend that they would be allowed to reopen. But breweries, winemakers and distilleries that don't serve food must remain closed, and some owners have asked Abbott to change the rules so that they too can reopen. Several breweries have already had to close their doors since March, as the economic impact of state-mandated closures has taken its toll. New Update to Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission Guidelines Allows Some Breweries to Qualify as Restaurants.
The survey, which collected responses from 87 breweries, found that one in three craft breweries indicated that it will have to stop operating in the next three months if nothing changes in the current closure order or if there are no new economic relief options available. On July 20, the Texas Craft Brewers Guild released the results of a survey it conducted to study the ongoing economic impact of the pandemic on Texas breweries. According to the most recent Texas Craft Brewers Guild survey, 20% of breweries in the state are currently experiencing revenue losses of 80% or more year-over-year. According to the Texas Craft Brewers Guild's own count, at least six breweries have been permanently closed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
Thanks to guidance recently released by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC), several Texas breweries can now reopen their on-site drinking taverns. The breweries understood that this new rule meant that customers could buy beers to go and then drink and serve the drinks themselves on patios and in breweries, without any table service, “as if they were standing in line,” said Adam, co-owner and co-founder of Austin Beerworks. DeBower. Abbott's June 26 executive order affecting 51% of establishments forced the vast majority of breweries to close their taverns and rely on the sale of packages and take-out beer, said Josh Hare, board president of the Texas Craft Brewers Guild and founder of Hops & Grain Brewing, in the press release of July 20 from the organization.
Craft beer guilds and associations talk weekly about what is happening in their states, he says, adding that many other states have started allowing breweries to send beer directly to consumers on a temporary or permanent basis. Last week, the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission issued an option to temporarily modify the license of breweries across the state. Texas breweries continue to call on state leaders to relax regulations as industry continues to fight coronavirus pandemic. To clarify, breweries can only be takeaway and customers can't sit on the patio if the establishment has alcohol sales that account for 51 percent or more of its total sales.
In addition, breweries purchased disinfectant, cleaning supplies, and installed contactless purchasing systems in preparation for reopening. This means that breweries that often make their sales through wholesale and retail avenues could be considered restaurants. In May, breweries were able to reopen taverns and patios so customers could drink on the premises, but the following month, these alcohol-focused businesses, along with all the other bars, defined as places that made 51 percent of their sales through alcohol, had to close again due to another in the whole state. executive order in response to the increase in new cases of coronavirus.
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