The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission is now offering a new permit that will allow third-party vendors like DoorDash or Favor to deliver alcohol to your doorstep.

The permit is called a Consumer Delivery Permit, and it is the third-party vendors who will be applying for it.

TABC Executive Director Bentley Nettles says there will be limits.

"If a Mexican restaurant has your favorite margarita, you can’t have that delivered. It has to be a spirit from the manufacturer in a sealed container,” said Nettles.

That means any sealed container, whether its beer, wine, or spirits, can be delivered to your door by a participating third-party vendor.

Jon Teeter managers Zoners in College Station, and says they already use their drivers to deliver alcohol, but this new permit will open new doors.

"In today's restaurant world, people look at their phones and computers before they pick up a phone. I think being able to use the third-party vendors will help out a lot,” said Teeter.

The TABC says the effort to allow these permits is not just about convenience, it is also about safety.

"We think it’s positive because then people won’t be getting on the road to get restocked or replenished,” said Nettles.

These third-party vendors will also be in charge of confirming the legal age of the person who orders the alcohol. The TABC says whether it's swiping a driver’s license, or visually checking, will be up to each specific vendor.

These delivery drivers will also receive training similar to bartenders or servers in restaurants for how to spot a fake ID, or deciding whether someone is too intoxicated to have more alcohol.

Below is the full press release from the TABC:

Texans will soon have another option to order drinks for their holiday get-togethers. A new permit will let delivery drivers bring alcohol orders directly to a customer’s door.

The new Consumer Delivery (CD) Permit will allow third-party companies — which could include services such as Favor and Instacart — to begin making alcohol deliveries. These third-party companies will pick up the alcohol from businesses licensed by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission such as bars, restaurants and liquor stores.

“The Consumer Delivery Permit is an important step forward for Texas consumers, as well as alcohol retailers,” TABC Executive Director Bentley Nettles said. “For years, Texans across the state have relied on third-party services to deliver everything from clothing to vehicles. Now, at long last, alcohol can be delivered as well.”

The TABC is now accepting applications for the new permit. The agency expects to issue the first permits to eligible applicants during the third week of December.

Background

The CD permit was created by Senate Bill 1450, which was approved by the 86th Texas Legislature in May and signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott shortly afterward. Since May, TABC has worked closely with alcoholic beverage industry stakeholders and delivery services to determine issues such as fees and training requirements for the new permit.

Current holders of certain TABC permits may already deliver alcohol to customers alongside orders of food. This includes restaurants and bars that hold Mixed Beverage Permits with Food and Beverage Certificates. The new CD permits extend the ability to deliver alcohol to third-party companies.

— Applications for the new permit are available for download from the TABC website: https://www.tabc.texas.gov/forms/licensing/L-DEL.pdf. For more information about TABC, visit www.tabc.texas.gov.