Alcohol laws in Texas can be complex. Despite seeing what you believe to be a public venue selling alcohol, you can’t always just walk into it and expect to be served. You may, in fact, be venturing into a private club.
Private clubs in Texas are commonplace but aren’t always easy to understand. If you’d like to learn the answers to questions like ‘What is a private club?’ you can find what you’re looking for below:
What Is a Private Club in Texas?
Private clubs in Texas are buildings where people meet up to socialize, eat, drink, and enjoy each other’s company and shared interests. To enter such a building, you typically need to be a member, which means you pay dues or membership fees.
According to the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC), a private club in Texas is an association driven toward a common objective, such as religious, fraternal, social, or charitable. Private clubs in Texas with Private Club Registration Permits can operate in certain parts of Texas that don’t allow some or all types of alcohol sales.
When you obtain a Private Club Registration Permit to open a private club in Texas, you can:
- Buy malt beverages, distilled spirits, and wine from specific business types
- Serve those alcoholic beverages to members of your club and their guests
- Provide food service to club members and their guests
- Serve members alcohol-to-go with food service – if you’re a restaurant
Members of a TABC private club can invite up to three guests at a time to enjoy their club with them but are not allowed to purchase drinks from the club. Private clubs also have locker systems so members can store their own alcoholic beverages to drink in the club. Some private clubs enable non-members to enjoy their clubs as temporary members.
What Is TABC Safe Harbor?
Forming clubs in Texas is a straightforward way for people to enjoy social outings with their friends and consume alcohol where they may otherwise not legally be allowed to. However, that doesn’t mean it’s a free-for-all situation in which there are no rules or regulations to follow.
Club owners are responsible for public safety, which can involve not serving alcohol to minors, not serving people who are intoxicated, reporting breaches of the peace to the TABC, and other TABC laws for private clubs.
Failure to follow these laws and private club rules and regulations can result in administrative penalties and even the cancellation of your license. However, that’s also where Safe Harbor TABC rules come into effect. You may be exempt from administrative actions, such as suspension and penalties, if you have Safe Harbor protection measures in place. These include:
- All personnel involved in the sale, service, and delivery of alcohol undertaking seller-server training programs within 30 days of their employment
- Having a written policy for responsible alcohol service and consumption that all employees have read
- The employee that committed the violation having completed the seller-server program and having a current certificate
- The employer not directly or indirectly encouraging the employee to violate the law
- The person committing the violation not being the permit holder
Seller-Server TABC Certification
Seller-server TABC certification is integral to straightforward alcohol service in a private club. As mentioned above, club owners may be able to avoid administrative penalties if their employees have completed TABC certification.
That begs the question: What is TABC certification?
TABC certification is an approved TABC seller training certification course for employees working with and around alcohol. This 100% online course can help employees identify intoxicated patrons, become familiar with alcohol laws, and avoid selling to underage minors.
After completing the course online in their own time, employees can receive a certificate that’s valid for two years.
Complete TABC Certification for Your Private Club Today
Are you a private club owner who wants responsible, educated employees so you can abide by TABC private club rules and regulations? You’re in the right place. TABC Pronto is an approved online provider of the TABC certification course.
Enroll your employees in our TABC certificate online today and enjoy more knowledgeable, skilled employees who will provide excellent customer service for your private club patrons.