Texas package (liquor) stores may sell Monday through Saturday from 10am to 9pm and must close on Sundays, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. Beer and wine are sold at grocery and convenience stores on Sundays starting at 10am. Alcohol delivery requires a TABC delivery permit and a 21+ recipient with valid photo ID at handoff.
Every Sunday, someone pulls on our door at MLK and Chicon, reads the sign, and sighs. We get it. Texas liquor law is a patchwork of rules that made sense to someone in 1935 and still shapes when and how you can buy a bottle today. Here's the plain-English version from a family that lives by these rules six days a week.
Why Are Liquor Stores Closed on Sunday in Texas?
Because state law says so. Texas package stores — the legal name for a liquor store — are only permitted to sell distilled spirits Monday through Saturday. Sunday sales of liquor are prohibited statewide, no matter the city or county. This is a holdover from the "blue laws" that once restricted all kinds of Sunday commerce; most of those rules have been repealed over the decades, but the Sunday liquor ban has stuck around.
So it's not that we're taking the day off. Both our East Austin store and our Lakeway store are closed Sundays because we're required to be. Every liquor store in Texas is in the same boat.
The 10am to 9pm Window
Monday through Saturday, package stores may sell from 10am to 9pm. That's the ceiling set by the state, and it's the schedule we keep at both locations. A few practical notes:
- Doors open at 10am sharp, not before. If you're waiting outside at 9:55, we'll wave, but we can't ring you up.
- Sales stop at 9pm. Plan your Saturday night run with a little cushion.
- The same window applies to online orders. Delivery and curbside pickup happen inside the hours the store is legally open.
Holiday Closures (and the Following-Monday Rule)
Texas liquor stores must close on three holidays each year: Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. There's a wrinkle worth memorizing: when Christmas Day or New Year's Day lands on a Sunday, package stores also close the following Monday. That can mean a two-day gap right when the house is full of guests.
| Holiday | Package stores | If it falls on Sunday |
|---|---|---|
| Thanksgiving Day | Closed | Always a Thursday |
| Christmas Day | Closed | Also closed Monday, Dec. 26 |
| New Year's Day | Closed | Also closed Monday, Jan. 2 |
Other holidays (Fourth of July, Labor Day, Memorial Day, Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve) are normal business days for liquor stores under state law, and we're open our regular hours. We'll always post any holiday schedule on our FAQ page and store doors.
Beer and Wine vs. Liquor Stores
This is where most of the confusion comes from. Texas treats beer and wine differently from distilled spirits, and different types of stores hold different permits.
Grocery and convenience stores
Beer and wine can be sold at grocery stores, convenience stores, and gas stations on Sundays starting at 10am. That Sunday start time moved earlier from noon in 2021. These stores cannot sell liquor at all, on any day.
Package stores like ours
A package store sells spirits, wine, and beer under one roof, six days a week. We're the only kind of retailer that can sell you a bottle of bourbon to take home. Learn more about what's on our shelves in our bourbon guide and Texas spirits guide.
Bars and restaurants
On-premise businesses run under separate rules and can serve drinks on Sundays. That's why you can order a mimosa at brunch but can't buy a bottle of vodka on the way home.
Can I Buy Liquor on Sunday in Austin?
No. Liquor stores in Austin, and everywhere else in Texas, are closed on Sundays. You can buy beer and wine at grocery and convenience stores starting at 10am on Sunday, and bars and restaurants can serve you a drink. But if you want a bottle of tequila, whiskey, gin, or vodka to go, it has to be Monday through Saturday between 10am and 9pm.
Shop this guide: stock up online before Saturday closes and we'll have it packed for delivery or curbside pickup.
SHOP BEFORE SUNDAYAlcohol Delivery Rules in Texas
Delivery from a liquor store is legal in Texas, but it comes with guardrails that we take seriously as a TABC-licensed, family-owned business:
- A TABC delivery permit is required. Only permitted retailers can deliver alcohol.
- The recipient must be 21 or older and show a valid government-issued photo ID at handoff.
- No unattended drop-offs. We can't leave a bag on the porch, with a neighbor, or with a front desk. Someone 21+ has to receive it in person.
- No handoff to anyone intoxicated. If the recipient appears intoxicated, the driver has to decline.
- Undeliverable orders return to the store. If no one eligible is home, the order comes back.
Delivery follows store hours, so there's no Sunday delivery. For scope and terms, see our delivery page, and read our delivery how-to for a step-by-step.
Curbside Pickup Rules
Curbside is the easy middle ground. Order online or call the store (East Austin (512) 614-4949, Lakeway (512) 300-0065), park out front, and call when you arrive. We bring the order to your car and check the ID of the person picking up. Same 21+ requirement, same store hours.
The Planning Tip Everyone Learns the Hard Way
If Sunday is the plan — game day, a lake afternoon, a Sunday-night dinner — shop on Saturday. Place an order online for delivery or curbside, or swing by either store before 9pm. It's a small habit that keeps the weekend running smoothly, and it's the reason our Saturday afternoons are the busiest hours of the week.
When in doubt on any rule, TABC is the final word. We'll keep this guide current as the law changes, and the person behind the counter is always happy to explain what we can and can't do.
Common Questions
What time do liquor stores open and close in Texas?
Package stores may sell from 10am to 9pm, Monday through Saturday. They are closed all day Sunday. Both Monarch locations keep exactly those hours.
Are liquor stores open on Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve in Texas?
Yes. State law only requires closure on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve are regular business days, though they're busy, so shop early.
Can someone else accept my alcohol delivery?
Any adult 21 or older at the address can accept it with a valid government photo ID. The driver can't leave it unattended or with anyone under 21.