Texas
Are liquor stores open on New Year's in Texas?
The night itself is unrestricted. The morning after is one of three annual package store closures.
New Year's Day dates and closures
January 1. When it falls on a Sunday, package stores are also closed the following Monday.
| Year | Date | Package stores |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Thursday, January 1, 2026 | Closed |
| 2027 | Friday, January 1, 2027 | Closed |
| 2028 | Saturday, January 1, 2028 | Closed |
| 2029 | Monday, January 1, 2029 | Closed |
What is still open on New Year's Day
The closure applies to package stores only — the shops selling sealed spirits. Everything else runs on its normal schedule:
- Grocery and convenience stores sell beer and wine on normal hours, 7:00 a.m. to midnight Monday through Saturday.
- Bars and restaurants serve beer, wine, and mixed drinks normally, including spirits — the closure does not touch on-premise service.
- Wineries and breweries keep their own hours under § 105.08 and § 105.082.
So a bottle of wine for the table is straightforward. A bottle of bourbon is not — that is the one purchase to make the day before.
No special hours for the countdown
Texas does not extend last call for New Year’s Eve. Bars stop serving at midnight, or at 2:00 a.m. where the premises holds a Late Hours certificate and the local jurisdiction permits extended hours — exactly as on any other night of the year. Since midnight is the moment everyone is toasting anyway, the standard cutoff rarely bites, but the 2:00 a.m. venues are the ones that keep going afterwards.
The winery exception
One genuine New Year’s extension exists. Under § 105.08 a Texas winery may sell from midnight until 2:00 a.m. on New Year’s Day, on top of its normal schedule. It is the only alcohol-hours provision in the code written specifically for the holiday.
Stocking up
December 31 is the last day to buy spirits until January 2. If New Year’s Day falls on a Sunday, the closure extends through Monday and the last opportunity is Saturday, December 30 at 9:00 p.m.
Common questions
- Are liquor stores open on New Year's Eve in Texas?
- Yes, on normal hours — 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. — unless New Year's Eve falls on a Sunday. New Year's Eve is not a statutory closure day.
- Are liquor stores open on New Year's Day in Texas?
- No. Package stores are closed all day on January 1. When it falls on a Sunday they are closed the following Monday as well.
- What time do bars close on New Year's Eve in Texas?
- Midnight, or 2 a.m. at venues holding a Late Hours certificate in areas that permit extended hours. There is no special New Year's extension — the countdown itself falls inside normal hours either way.
- Can you buy beer on New Year's Day in Texas?
- Yes, at grocery and convenience stores on normal hours. If January 1 falls on a Sunday, Sunday rules apply and beer is available from 10 a.m.
- Do Texas bars get extra hours on New Year's Eve?
- No. The cutoff is the same as any other night. One narrow exception exists for wineries, which may sell until 2 a.m. on New Year's Day under section 105.08.
- What time do liquor stores close on New Year's Eve in Texas?
- 9 p.m., the standard closing time. Buy before then — they will not reopen until January 2.
Sources
- Tex. Alco. Bev. Code § 105.01 — Hours of sale: liquor
- Tex. Alco. Bev. Code § 105.03 — Hours of sale: mixed beverages
- Tex. Alco. Bev. Code § 105.05 — Hours of sale: malt beverages
- Tex. Alco. Bev. Code § 105.08 — Hours of sale: winery
Last verified . Statutory text current as of January 1, 2026. How we check this.