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TABC - Compact with Texans

Service, Courtesy, Integrity, and Accountability

The agency's cornerstones provide the foundation for the agency – who we are and what we do. Everything else is built on these four principles. When it comes down to it, these are pretty much universal guiding principles that we all have come to expect of any service provider. We believe you deserve no less from us.

At the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, we realize the great responsibility that the State of Texas has placed upon our agency and we view this Compact as a binding agreement between you, our customer, and every member of our agency.

In addition to telling you who we are and what we do, this agreement will also lay out some standards that we will strive hard to measure up to as we carry out our day-to-day responsibilities. So, whether your contact with us is in person, via regular mail, via e-mail, over the telephone, at our web site or through whatever other medium available, we want you to know that our work ethic will be marked with a spirit and zeal to help you out in whatever way possible.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve you.

Sincerely,
Alan Steen
Administrator


Our Mission, Vision, Philosophy and Guiding Principles

Our Mission

Established in 1935, our mission is to promote public safety and serve the people of Texas through consistent, fair and timely administration of the Alcoholic Beverage Code while fostering education, voluntary compliance and legal, responsible alcohol consumption.

Our Vision

A safe and responsible Texas served by an Alcoholic Beverage Commission committed to innovative partnerships with our communities and the alcoholic beverage industry.

Our Philosophy

The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission will:

  • apply the Alcoholic Beverage Code in a fair, consistent, and timely manner;
  • exemplify courteous, ethical, and professional behavior;
  • be fiscally responsible and accountable to the people of Texas; and
  • be accessible, transparent, efficient and effective.

Our Guiding Principles

  1. We value our employees, are committed to their continual improvement and empower them to make key decisions.
  2. We recruit, train, mentor, and develop individuals who are committed to our vision.
  3. We expect ethical and professional behavior of ourselves.
  4. We exercise discretion in our authority when making decisions based on ethical and legal principles.
  5. We do the right thing, not just what we have the right to do.
  6. We know our mission and understand our purpose, and we integrate our efforts in order to accomplish it in a consistent and efficient manner.
  7. We work together to achieve goals and solve problems.
  8. We strive to put responsible people into business and promote good business practices through integrated partnerships.

Our Services

  • We conduct investigations for minors in possession, public intoxication, bootlegging, prostitution, gambling, narcotics, weapons, and organized criminal activities.
  • We provide regular instruction to school children, licensees and permittees (and their employees), and to members of civic groups to promote a better understanding of the law and voluntary compliance.
  • We oversee the labeling, bottling, and promotion of alcoholic beverage products.
  • We issue more than 60 different types of alcoholic beverage licenses and permits throughout the state and the world to establish regulatory control.
  • We conduct regulatory and tax compliance audits to ensure adherence with the Alcoholic Beverage Code and ensure the proper amount of tax/fee is reported and paid.
  • We assure compliance with personal importation laws and collect taxes and administrative fees on alcoholic beverages and cigarettes imported into Texas from Mexico.
  • We review and prosecute administrative violations of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code by licensees and permittees.

Our Customer Service Standards

We recognize that quality service is essential in meeting our mission, goals, and responsibilities. We pledge to:

  • Treat you with professional courtesy and respect at all times.
  • Provide you with accurate, timely, and complete information.
  • Respond to all inquiries within three to five working days of receipt.
  • Process new applications received for final processing in Licensing Headquarters within 14 working days.
  • Acknowledge receipt of complaints within three working days.
  • Resolve complaints within 60 working days and notify you if any situations arise that may require additional time for complaint resolution.
  • Provide helpful and up-to-date information on our web site.
  • Ensure our facilities are easily accessible and clean.
  • Provide you with our Compact with Texan's Customer Satisfaction Survey results and continually strive to improve our services.

Our Customer Relations Representative

Our Customer Relations Representative is responsible for responding to any of your concerns regarding our agency. Please feel free to contact her:

Carolyn Beck
Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission
PO Box 13127
Austin, Texas 78711
questions@tabc.state.tx.us
(512) 206-3347

Our Complaint Handling Process

Report Violations of the Alcoholic Beverage Code

You may file a complaint against violations of the Alcoholic Beverage Code, including establishments and persons who sell or give alcoholic beverages to minors. For all complaints, you will need to provide the name and location of the establishment, if applicable, and a description of the violations observed.

Upon receipt, we will acknowledge your complaint within three working days. Every effort will be made to resolve your complaint within 60 working days. You will be notified of any situations that would require additional time for complaint resolution. If you have any questions or would like to file a complaint concerning a violation of the Alcoholic Beverage Code, please contact us by:

Complaints Against TABC Personnel

In order to file a complaint against the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission or an employee of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, please contact our Office of Professional Responsibility (Internal Affairs) by:

  • E-mail: opr@tabc.state.tx.us
  • Telephone: (512) 206-3405
  • Mail:
    Office of Professional Responsibility
    Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission
    PO Box 13127
    Austin, Texas 78711
  • Fax: (512) 206-3207

Our License And Permit Process

In an effort to respond to your needs, the “Instructions for Applicants of an Alcoholic Beverage License or Permit” was created to guide you through the application process and can be downloaded free-of-charge from our licensing forms page or obtained from your local TABC office. This helpful booklet contains such useful information as:

  • Different types of licenses and permits;
  • Fee and surcharge amounts for all licenses and permits;
  • Directory of all local offices;
  • Step-by-step procedures of the application process;
  • Checklist of required forms; and
  • Detailed instructions for every form.

In order to apply for an alcoholic beverage license or permit, you must contact your local TABC office and request a materials packet. The packet contains:

  • Information on the license or permit type for which you are applying;
  • Blank Application Forms and Personal History Sheets;
  • Conduct Surety, Tax Bond Forms or other bond/security forms, if applicable; and
  • Other forms as required by local governing bodies.

The number of applications you will need to prepare will vary depending on your location and what is required from your local government offices. Our local TABC office will inform you of the exact number you are required to complete when you pick up your packet. Please allow up to 75 working days for processing a new application. However, the application process may be completed faster depending on the workload.

This timeframe varies depending on the length of time required to process your application through the city and/or county in which you are located. For certain on-premise locations, the posting of a sign is required for 60 days prior to your application being received in Austin. In certain cases, an inspection of the proposed licensed location may be necessary for processing your application. Issuance of your license or permit will be delayed if this inspection has not been conducted.

If a completed renewal application and all required fees have been filed with the agency prior to the expiration date of the permit or license, the permit holder may operate, under the expired permit or license, until the renewal application is denied or issued.

If you have any questions or comments regarding our license and permit application process, please contact us by:

Questions, Comments, Suggestions and Requests for Information

We value your comments and will use them to measure our performance and improve our service. Communication of information and ideas provides an understanding and shared commitment toward achieving common goals.

Every effort will be made to respond to your inquiries (including US mail, e-mail and/or personal requests) within three to five working days of receipt. Questions, comments, suggestions, and requests for information can easily be made by:

Locations | E-Mail | Mail | Telephone | Office of Professional Responsibility (Internal Affairs)

Your Satisfaction Is Important To Us!

Please take a few minutes to complete our Customer Satisfaction Survey (currently unavailable). It will help us evaluate the services we provide and determine how they can be improved. In addition, your responses will be kept strictly confidential. We want to make this agency more responsive to the needs of the public, but we need the help of people like you to make it happen.


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