Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission:

An Inventory of Alcoholic Beverage Commission Records at the Texas State Archives, 1964-2012

Agency History

The passage of the Twenty-first Amendment to the United States Constitution in 1933 repealed prohibition and the Eighteenth Amendment and made it necessary for states to enact laws to regulate alcoholic beverages. The Texas Liquor Control Act (House Bill 77, 44th Texas Legislature, Second Called Session) created the Texas Liquor Control Board in 1935. The Board assumed its present name of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission effective January 1, 1970 (House Bill 379, 61st Legislature, Regular Session, 1969). The Liquor Control Act was codified into the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code by House Bill 815, 65th Legislature, Regular Session, in 1977. The commission is charged with the administration and enforcement of the Code which establishes guidelines for the activities of all persons engaged in any phase of the alcoholic beverage business. The commission inspects, supervises, and regulates the business of manufacturing, importing, exporting, transporting, storing, selling, advertising, labeling, and distributing alcoholic beverages. As of 2012, a statutory fee is assessed for 67 different types of licenses and permits. Fees associated with the sale of wine and distilled spirits are paid directly to the commission, while fees assessed to beer retailers, distributors or manufacturers located in the state are paid to the county tax assessor of the county in which the applicant's business is located. The county is allowed a five percent commission on total fees and the balance is remitted to the commission and deposited in the state's General Revenue Fund.

The policy-making body of the agency is a three-member commission, appointed by the governor with concurrence of the senate for overlapping six-year terms. The agency head administrator is appointed by the commission. As of 2012, the agency consists of five districts (Arlington, Austin, Houston, Lubbock, and San Antonio) with headquarters in Austin, 36 district offices, and 28 tax collection stations at ports of entry along the Texas-Mexico border.

Administration of the Texas Bingo Act was transferred from the Comptroller of Public Accounts to the Alcoholic Beverage Commission effective January 1, 1990. Under this act, the commission was charged with licensing and supervising those who are authorized to conduct bingo games or who manufacture or sell bingo equipment. This responsibility was transferred to the Texas Lottery Commission in April 1994.

(Sources include: Guide to Texas State Agencies, 11th edition (2001); the agency web site (http://www.tabc.state.tx.us/); the article on Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission by Richard Allen Burns, in The Handbook of Texas Online, both accessed June 2012; the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code; and the enabling legislation, 1935, 1969, and 1977.)

Scope and Contents of the Records

The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (called the Texas Liquor Control Board from 1935 to 1969) inspects, supervises, and regulates the business of manufacturing, importing, exporting, transporting, storing, selling, advertising, labeling, and distributing alcoholic beverages in Texas. These records date 1964-2012 and include copies of minutes, agenda, and transcripts of meetings of the Texas Liquor Control Board and Alcoholic Beverage Commission; correspondence, memos, and reports from the executive division; and press releases issued by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.

The minutes of the Liquor Control Board date 1964-1969. For the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, minutes date 1970-1987 and 2003-2012, transcripts date 1988-2003, and agenda date 2003-2012.

The general files and staff correspondence from the executive division of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission include minutes from commission meetings, correspondence, memos, and staff reports. Subject matter in the records include the issuance of alcoholic permits and licenses, interpretations of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code, analysis of proposed legislation, assignments of commission personnel, and commemoration of the commission's 50th anniversary in November 1985.

The press releases span 1975-1996, although not all years are represented.

To prepare this inventory, the described materials were cursorily reviewed to delineate series, to confirm the accuracy of contents lists, to provide an estimate of dates covered, and to determine record types.

Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

Materials do not circulate, but may be used in the State Archives search room. Materials will be retrieved from and returned to storage areas by staff members.

Restrictions on Use

Most records created by Texas state agencies are not copyrighted and may be freely used in any way. State records also include materials received by, not created by, state agencies. Copyright remains with the creator. The researcher is responsible for complying with U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17 U.S.C.).

Technical Requirements

None.

Related Material

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item and cite the series), Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission records. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Accession Information

Accession numbers: 1991/076, 1998/109, 1999/011, 2000/027, 2001/008, 2002/025, 2003/043, 2004/024, 2004/160, 2005/052, 2006/082, 2006/132, 2007/017, 2008/020, 2009/046, 2010/075, 2011/039, 2011/120, 2011/232, 2012/024

These records were transferred to the Archives and Information Services Division of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission on January 28, 1991; May 19, 1998; September 29, 1998; September 29, 1999; September 28, 2000; September 19, 2001; October 21, 2002; September 29, 2003; October 28, 2004; December 21, 2005; September 15, 2006; September 25, 2007; October 23, 2008; March 2, 2010; October 25, 2010; and October 28, 2011; and by the Texas Legislative Reference Library on June 8, 2004; January 26, 2006; September 14, 2010; and February 17, 2011.

Processing Information

Executive Division records processed by Paul B. Beck, April 1992

Finding aid for Executive Division records encoded by Carolyn Foster in EAD Version 1.0 as part of the TARO project, January 2002

Finding aid for Executive Division records converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by TARO using the conversion stylesheet v1to02.xsl, July 22, 2003

Meeting files processed by Tony Black, September 2005

Finding aid for meeting files encoded by Tony Black in EAD Version 2002 as part of the TARO project, June 2006

Three accessions of minutes and agenda added, and two inventories merged by Tony Black, May 2009

Five accessions of minutes and agenda added by Rebecca Romanchuk, June 2012

Accruals

The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission transfers minutes and agenda to the Texas State Archives on a regular basis.

Other Formats for the Records

The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission periodically mounts its minutes (in PDF format) on the agency web site (http://www.tabc.state.tx.us/about_us/meeting_minutes.asp). As of June 2012, this includes minutes since February 2000.

The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission also periodically mounts its press releases (in ASP format) on the agency web site (http://www.tabc.state.tx.us/home/press_releases.asp). As of June 2012, this includes press releases since January 2002.

Location of Originals

The record copies of minutes, agenda, and transcripts are maintained by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.

Detailed Description of the Records