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Texas

Are liquor stores open on Thanksgiving in Texas?

One of three days a year that Texas package stores close entirely — and the one people most often plan around badly.

Package stores are closed all day on Thanksgiving. Beer and wine remain on sale at grocery and convenience stores on normal hours, and bars and restaurants serve normally, including spirits. Buy liquor on Wednesday.

Thanksgiving Day dates and closures

Fourth Thursday in November. Package stores close on the day itself.

Thanksgiving Day dates and Texas package store closures by year
YearDatePackage stores
2026Thursday, November 26, 2026Closed
2027Thursday, November 25, 2027Closed
2028Thursday, November 23, 2028Closed
2029Thursday, November 22, 2029Closed

What is still open on Thanksgiving

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.

What to buy, and when

The Thanksgiving week trap is straightforward once you see it laid out: the Sunday before is a package store closure, and so is Thanksgiving itself. That leaves Monday through Wednesday to buy spirits.

Texas alcohol availability across Thanksgiving week
DayLiquor (package stores)Beer & wine
Sunday beforeClosed — every SundayFrom 10:00 a.m.
Monday10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.7:00 a.m. – midnight
Tuesday10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.7:00 a.m. – midnight
Wednesday10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. — last chance7:00 a.m. – midnight
Thanksgiving DayClosed all day7:00 a.m. – midnight
Black Friday10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.7:00 a.m. – midnight

The one purchase to plan ahead: spirits. Everything else — beer, wine, a bottle for the table, a drink at a restaurant — is available on Thanksgiving Day itself.

Black Friday

An ordinary Friday. Package stores open at 10:00 a.m. and close at 9:00 p.m., and every other channel runs on its normal schedule. There is no special Black Friday provision in the Alcoholic Beverage Code.

Common questions

Are liquor stores open on Thanksgiving in Texas?
No. Texas package stores are closed all day on Thanksgiving. Buy spirits on Wednesday — they reopen at 10 a.m. on Black Friday.
Can you buy beer on Thanksgiving in Texas?
Yes. Beer and wine are on sale at grocery and convenience stores on their normal Thursday schedule, 7 a.m. to midnight. Thanksgiving does not affect beer or wine sales at all.
Can you buy wine on Thanksgiving in Texas?
Yes, at grocery and convenience stores on normal hours. Wine above 17 percent alcohol — port and sherry — is restricted separately and cannot be sold after 10 p.m. on any day, but Thanksgiving itself does not close it.
Are bars open on Thanksgiving in Texas?
Yes. Bars and restaurants serve beer, wine, and mixed drinks on their normal hours. The Thanksgiving closure applies only to package stores.
What time do liquor stores open the day after Thanksgiving?
10 a.m., the standard opening time. Black Friday is an ordinary Friday for Texas package stores.
Can I get liquor delivered on Thanksgiving in Texas?
No. Spirits delivery depends on a package store fulfilling the order, and they are closed. Beer and wine delivery from grocery retailers runs normally.

Sources

Last verified . Statutory text current as of January 1, 2026. How we check this.