okwriter Posted April 4, 2012 #1 Share Posted April 4, 2012 My upcoming Magic cruise will be my 3rd out of Galveston. I seem to recall something different about the drinks until the ship is a ways out. Is it that you can only order certain drinks? Or they can only contain certain liquor? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
douglinc@msn.com Posted April 4, 2012 #2 Share Posted April 4, 2012 Sometimes you don't get it until the next day sometimes it has been in our cabin when we get on board or later that night. Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drosphot Posted April 5, 2012 #3 Share Posted April 5, 2012 My upcoming Magic cruise will be my 3rd out of Galveston. I seem to recall something different about the drinks until the ship is a ways out. Is it that you can only order certain drinks? Or they can only contain certain liquor? Thanks! I don't know which ones are limited to serving prior to reaching international waters, but I can explain that the TABC (Texas Alcholic Beverage Commission) set up the very arcane rules that require this. They really are a Gestapo-type organization in most Texans opinions... Sorry I don't recall exactly which liquors or beers but sadly it's true. :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donoiv Posted April 5, 2012 #4 Share Posted April 5, 2012 I don't know which ones are limited to serving prior to reaching international waters, but I can explain that the TABC (Texas Alcholic Beverage Commission) set up the very arcane rules that require this. They really are a Gestapo-type organization in most Texans opinions... Sorry I don't recall exactly which liquors or beers but sadly it's true. :( They have some of the hard stuff... beer is different than the typical day... It includes Shiner and Shiner Blonde among some others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peabody304 Posted April 5, 2012 #5 Share Posted April 5, 2012 I don't know which ones are limited to serving prior to reaching international waters, but I can explain that the TABC (Texas Alcholic Beverage Commission) set up the very arcane rules that require this. They really are a Gestapo-type organization in most Texans opinions... Sorry I don't recall exactly which liquors or beers but sadly it's true. :( Accurate answer up through the "...very arcane rules..." part. I do want to offer my congratulations on proving Godwin's law in only the second reply. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonbgd Posted April 5, 2012 #6 Share Posted April 5, 2012 Its set up so a local Texas booze supplier gets his cut of the profit. I didnt notice anything different with my DOD's on the Triumph a couple months ago Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DizzyDallasDi Posted April 5, 2012 #7 Share Posted April 5, 2012 They have some of the hard stuff... beer is different than the typical day... It includes Shiner and Shiner Blonde among some others. Shiner is pretty good stuff. It could be worse....Lone Star comes to mind. :eek: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sargent_Schultz Posted April 5, 2012 #8 Share Posted April 5, 2012 The Texas liquor laws are asinine at best, but they used to be worse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
okwriter Posted April 5, 2012 Author #9 Share Posted April 5, 2012 I remember one of my sisters ordering a margarita in November, and the bar staff either suggested she wait or told he she couldn't get one. Can't remember which... We just had DODs instead, but I think even those were light on the alcohol compared to usual. Just wondering if anyone knew for sure. I may just wait until we're out far enough to get "the good stuff" --- except for one obligatory DOD, of course. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
okwriter Posted April 5, 2012 Author #10 Share Posted April 5, 2012 And if you think the liquor laws are backward in Texas, you should visit Oklahoma. Our are even crazier! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
divingmedic Posted April 5, 2012 #11 Share Posted April 5, 2012 Shiner is pretty good stuff. It could be worse....Lone Star comes to mind. :eek: OMG they still make that? Bad memories coming back from that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
divingmedic Posted April 5, 2012 #12 Share Posted April 5, 2012 And if you think the liquor laws are backward in Texas, you should visit Oklahoma. Our are even crazier! Yeah, I used to have kin in Oklahoma, DW has kin there. Kansas is just as bad. 3.2 beer, blech! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yst347 Posted April 5, 2012 #13 Share Posted April 5, 2012 While ships are in Texas state waters the state views them in the same light as any other vendor licensed to sell intoxicating beverages by the drink. I'm not a lawyer but as I understand the regulations the beverages sold on board while in state waters must be beverages provisioned by a licensed Texas distributor and must be taxed in accordance with Texas law. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geckog Posted April 5, 2012 #14 Share Posted April 5, 2012 While ships are in Texas state waters the state views them in the same light as any other vendor licensed to sell intoxicating beverages by the drink. I'm not a lawyer but as I understand the regulations the beverages sold on board while in state waters must be beverages provisioned by a licensed Texas distributor and must be taxed in accordance with Texas law. Yes, with payment of Texas excise taxes. The limitation of what is available before sailaway is what Carnival is willing to purchase in Texas at Texas prices. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boaterette Posted April 5, 2012 #15 Share Posted April 5, 2012 I went and saw the Texans play their first season and we had to have a food product to buy a drink before noon. We bought a bag of peanuts and kept it with us when we went to the bat. It was too funny. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlanoTim Posted April 5, 2012 #16 Share Posted April 5, 2012 My upcoming Magic cruise will be my 3rd out of Galveston. I seem to recall something different about the drinks until the ship is a ways out. Is it that you can only order certain drinks? Or they can only contain certain liquor? Thanks! Texas Liquor law states that all liquor consumed while the ship is in port, and within 9 (?) miles of Texas must be purchased directly from Texas. Carnival probably sources most of their liquor from somewhere other than Texas. So they offer a "condensed" menu of drinks while the ship is in Galveston. In my experience they have offered all the usual types of liquor, but maybe just not a lot of variety. If you're a gin drinker, for example, they may have Tanqueray but not Beefeater. So your particular brand of liquor may not be available till the ship is away from port. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klfrodo Posted April 5, 2012 #17 Share Posted April 5, 2012 I'm on the Magic right now. When we boarded the ship in Galveston on Sunday, my wife could not get a Malibu and pineapple because of this law. She could get some other brand of coconut rum, just not Malibu, until after we set sail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sargent_Schultz Posted April 5, 2012 #18 Share Posted April 5, 2012 And if you think the liquor laws are backward in Texas, you should visit Oklahoma. Our are even crazier! I don't often cruise from Oklahoma (or Utah). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonbgd Posted April 5, 2012 #19 Share Posted April 5, 2012 I don't often cruise from Oklahoma (or Utah). I havnt seen those Itineraries:rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BallFour4 Posted April 5, 2012 #20 Share Posted April 5, 2012 As a Texas native for my first 53 years here is how the state works: Hard liquor sold aboard cruise ships while in domestic waters requires a tax stamp on it. Cruise lines select their top sellers and pay the tax, get the stamp and pour from those bottles. Once they reach a point after sailing the bars close for a few minutes, those bottles are stored and the ones with no tax (or duty) paid come out, hence full bar service. Beer and wine are subject to the same tax, however the bottles don't need the TABC stamp on them. When you return to port Texas residents are allowed one liter of hard liquor per passenger over age 21. Those cruisers that live outside of Texas are not subject to this law. Beer and wine can be sold in Texas stores 7 days a week. Sales are stopped at 2am and resume after 9am (not sure on this one) Monday through Saturday. Beer and wine can be purchased on Sunday after 12:00pm at stores and at bars as long a food is being served after 11:00am. If you want hard liquor to smuggle on (shame on you :)) then you are out of luck on Sunday. Hard liquor can be sold from 9:00am until 9:00pm at "package stores" Monday through Saturday only. Grocery stores and gas stations do not sell it. How's that for information from a virtual non-drinker? TABC guys are aggressive in Texas, at events like rodeos, college game day events, professional sports games and even private venue things like weddings they have been known to show up and ask for ID's from those that look under 21. This year we watched them work the Houston Rodeo one afternoon and that did a booming business about 50 yards from the beer stand. I'd rather have a good plate of ribs from Texas and gumbo from Sarge with the beer cold for the rest of you. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
divingmedic Posted April 5, 2012 #21 Share Posted April 5, 2012 As a Texas native for my first 53 years here is how the state works: Hard liquor sold aboard cruise ships while in domestic waters requires a tax stamp on it. Cruise lines select their top sellers and pay the tax, get the stamp and pour from those bottles. Once they reach a point after sailing the bars close for a few minutes, those bottles are stored and the ones with no tax (or duty) paid come out, hence full bar service. Beer and wine are subject to the same tax, however the bottles don't need the TABC stamp on them. When you return to port Texas residents are allowed one liter of hard liquor per passenger over age 21. Those cruisers that live outside of Texas are not subject to this law. Beer and wine can be sold in Texas stores 7 days a week. Sales are stopped at 2am and resume after 9am (not sure on this one) Monday through Saturday. Beer and wine can be purchased on Sunday after 12:00pm at stores and at bars as long a food is being served after 11:00am. If you want hard liquor to smuggle on (shame on you :)) then you are out of luck on Sunday. Hard liquor can be sold from 9:00am until 9:00pm at "package stores" Monday through Saturday only. Grocery stores and gas stations do not sell it. How's that for information from a virtual non-drinker? TABC guys are aggressive in Texas, at events like rodeos, college game day events, professional sports games and even private venue things like weddings they have been known to show up and ask for ID's from those that look under 21. This year we watched them work the Houston Rodeo one afternoon and that did a booming business about 50 yards from the beer stand. I'd rather have a good plate of ribs from Texas and gumbo from Sarge with the beer cold for the rest of you. . A buddy of mine got a ticket years ago for opening a beer before noon on Galveston island. Even though both of our watches and even the radio said it was noon he still got the ticket. TABC are brutal. If you want good ribs come out the Sam Houston Race Park on the 13th and 14th of this month. The Texas Association of First Responders is having their annual Wild Game Cookoff. I am on a team called "Meatwagon Cookers.":D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonbgd Posted April 5, 2012 #22 Share Posted April 5, 2012 If you want good ribs come out the Sam Houston Race Park on the 13th and 14th of this month. The Texas Association of First Responders is having their annual Wild Game Cookoff. I am on a team called "Meatwagon Cookers.":D So are you grilling up some roadkill:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BallFour4 Posted April 5, 2012 #23 Share Posted April 5, 2012 A buddy of mine got a ticket years ago for opening a beer before noon on Galveston island. Even though both of our watches and even the radio said it was noon he still got the ticket. TABC are brutal. If you want good ribs come out the Sam Houston Race Park on the 13th and 14th of this month. The Texas Association of First Responders is having their annual Wild Game Cookoff. I am on a team called "Meatwagon Cookers." :D Galveston is famous for open container tickets. Here's one you might not know; if you drive your car on the Bolivar ferry you can stand by it and drink a beer. However... don't get back in the car with it or pass it to a passenger inside. If you do then you earned a open container ticket. :eek: The ferry is considered part of Hwy 87. Open containers are prohibited on Seawall Blvd as well. Also, Galveston PD and GCSO work the ferry lines watching for registration and inspection stickers. We've seen them walk on the ferry and write all the cars they can in the 20 min ride across the bay. Amusing. We have the new Rudy's near us at NASA Parkway, so the rib craving gets satisfied after mass most Sunday's. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
okwriter Posted April 5, 2012 Author #24 Share Posted April 5, 2012 Okay, those explanations make much more sense. Thank you! And you haven't cruised until you book one departing from Oklahoma. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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