More than 1,500 letters from Texas consumers have been sent to Legislature in favor of commonsense bill to enhance consumer choice, support Texas businesses
The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) testified before the Texas House Licensing & Administrative Procedures Committee today in favor of HB 4077 which would allow spirits ready-to-drink cocktails (RTDs) to be sold in grocery and convenience stores where beer- and wine-based beverages with the same alcohol content are already being sold.
A Texans 4 Market Freedom campaign generated more than 1,500 letters from Texas consumers to lawmakers in Austin urging them to support allowing spirits RTDs in grocery and convenience stores. Consumers can still make their voice heard by taking action here.
Corey Staniscia, DISCUS vice president of state government relations, noted in his testimony that permitting spirits RTD sales only at liquor stores, when other alcohol products with the exact same alcohol content are allowed in grocery and convenience stores, puts these products and spirits consumers at an extreme disadvantage in Texas.
“Adult consumers in Texas are choosing spirits-based RTDs because of their convenience, taste, variety and quality, so it’s no surprise these products are leading the spirits category in both market growth and consumer popularity,” said Staniscia stated in his testimony. “Unfortunately, Texas consumers have to make a special trip to pick up these products. This lack of market access based solely on the ingredient used in these products is anti-business, anti-free market and protectionism at its finest. The government should not be in the business of picking winners and losers in the market.”
In his testimony, Staniscia noted that beer and wine are currently sold in more than 30,000 stores in Texas, but that there are only about 3,500 package stores selling spirits RTDs in Texas.
Staniscia also hit back on opponents of the legislation, noting their only motivation was preserving their own market advantages.
“HB 4077 is about allowing the free market to work and giving consumers equal access to similar products,” Staniscia stated. “The organizations that oppose this bill oppose it simply to keep out competition, to restrict consumer access and to give their business model a government-protected, competitive advantage.”
The proposed bill, introduced by Representative Cody Vasut (R-Angleton), would allow spirits-based RTDs with no greater than 17% alcohol-by-volume (ABV) to be sold where similar beer and wine products are already sold in Texas, including grocery and convenience stores. A similar bill, SB 2225, has also been introduced by Senator Kelly Hancock (R-Fort Worth).
Seven-Day Spirits Sales Bill
Staniscia also testified on HB 679, a bill to allow seven-day spirits sales in Texas.
“Seven-day spirits sales give adult consumers increased convenience and the freedom to choose when to buy their favorite spirits products just like they already do for beer and wine,” Stanisia stated in his testimony. “The decision on what day a business should open should be up to the business owner, not by government mandate. This bill does not require anyone to open on Sunday if they choose not to, it only allows liquor stores to choose what day they close based on their individual business model and market demands.”
Texas is one of only six states still banning the retail sale of spirits on Sundays including Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Utah.
