Bar service restrictions while still docked in Galveston

[cruiseguy1016]

I just saw a Cruise Compass from Liberty that says bar service is limited due to some Texas ABC law. What are the restrictions?

[smokeybandit]

Limits on what brands they can serve you.

[miamimommie]

They can only serve alcohol purchased in Texas so not everything is available. I like champagne and it’s not available until you are in international waters. 

[Tree_skier]

Pretty much any kind of booze is available just maybe not the brand that you prefer.  Don't worry, you can have a drink in your hand the moment you walk onto the ship  🤪

Edited March 5, 2022 by Tree_skier

[Lane Hog]

If I recall, serving alcohol on Sunday sailings might be curtailed before noon.... Texas still has some blue laws in place. 

Edited March 8, 2022 by Lane Hog

[HBE4]

Also, there might be some brands they only serve you while in Texas waters.  Specifically, Shiner Bock beer. I enjoyed it the first night but by the 2nd day, they pulled it from the shelves. Disappointed, i was but there was plenty more to choose from. 

[flamingos]

13 minutes ago, HBE4 said:

Also, there might be some brands they only serve you while in Texas waters.  Specifically, Shiner Bock beer. I enjoyed it the first night but by the 2nd day, they pulled it from the shelves. Disappointed, i was but there was plenty more to choose from. 

Any idea why they do this?

[ULCajunCruiser]

22 minutes ago, Lane Hog said:

If I recall, serving alcohol on Sunday sailings might be curtailed before noon.... Texas still has some blue laws in place. 

Don't think this is correct.   The issue with Galveston is that they can only serve alcohol carrying the Texas ABC stamp (basically meaning purchased from a Texas wholesaler).   As previous posters have said, you can buy a drink as soon as you get on board, the issue will be that not all brands will be available.   RCCL allows you to use your beverage package immediately.

[Tree_skier]

32 minutes ago, Lane Hog said:

If I recall, serving alcohol on Sunday sailings might be curtailed before noon.... Texas still has some blue laws in place. 

This is not so... My last cruise on Liberty out of Galveston I had a drink in my hand as soon as I was on board at 11:30

[Lane Hog]

10 minutes ago, ULCajunCruiser said:

Don't think this is correct.   The issue with Galveston is that they can only serve alcohol carrying the Texas ABC stamp (basically meaning purchased from a Texas wholesaler).   As previous posters have said, you can buy a drink as soon as you get on board, the issue will be that not all brands will be available.   RCCL allows you to use your beverage package immediately.

That's entirely likely, and the law limiting Sunday alcohol sales before noon was changed in 2021 to now allow it after 1000, which would rule out the Blue Laws.

That said... we had a sailing arrive 12 hours early into GLV due to a medical issue, and the bars remained full tilt on Saturday night.  Casino and shops closed prior to entering the channel.

The ship had not yet been cleared aside from the person taken to the hospital, but it was tied up from 18:40 Saturday until they allowed us off on Sunday starting at 07:30... perhaps that technicality on TABC only applies to while tied up and prior to leaving port?

 

Edited March 9, 2022 by Lane Hog

[Morecruisesplz]

On 3/5/2022 at 9:01 AM, miamimommie said:

They can only serve alcohol purchased in Texas so not everything is available. I like champagne and it’s not available until you are in international waters. 

Open in your cabin.

[George C]

On 3/5/2022 at 8:20 AM, cruiseguy1016 said:

I just saw a Cruise Compass from Liberty that says bar service is limited due to some Texas ABC law. What are the restrictions?

As previously said they will have all the basics but no top shelf until about ten miles out . Annoying but not much choice.

[matj2000]

Has nothing to do with Blue Laws or Sunday.

 

Texas controls liquor differently than other states.

 

They make the cruise line purchase TX alcohol while in port and TX waters.

Which in turn they can tax all the drinks served.

 

The ships make less profit because of this.

 

So they limit the alcohol to just a few major brands while in port.  So they don't have to purchase as much.

 

Once out sea they put away the TX alcohol and bring the entire selections..

Edited March 9, 2022 by matj2000

[Lane Hog]

14 minutes ago, matj2000 said:

They make the cruise line purchase TX alcohol while in port and TX waters.

Which in turn they can tax all the drinks served.

 

The ships make less profit because of this.

 

So they limit the alcohol to just a few major brands while in port.  So they don't have to purchase as much.

 

Once out sea they put away the TX alcohol and bring the entire selections..

 

Presumably they put away the TX taxed alcohol to save it for their next departure.

That said... the alcohol tax of $2.40/gallon isn't cutting too deep into profits.  That works out to $0.04 per 2 oz shot.

[matj2000]

1 minute ago, Lane Hog said:

 

Presumably they put away the TX taxed alcohol to save it for their next departure.

That said... the alcohol tax of $2.40/gallon isn't cutting too deep into profits.  That works out to $0.04 per 2 oz shot.

Exactly, they save it for the next voyage..

[Morecruisesplz]

2 minutes ago, matj2000 said:

Exactly, they save it for the next voyage..

I am going to ask for Texas vodka the entire cruise.

[flamingos]

39 minutes ago, matj2000 said:

Exactly, they save it for the next voyage..

Sorry, that's just silly, if there are people who want to buy it. Surely they can buy more.

[HBE4]

2 hours ago, flamingos said:

Any idea why they do this?

 

1 hour ago, Lane Hog said:

Presumably they put away the TX taxed alcohol to save it for their next departure..

 

17 minutes ago, flamingos said:

Sorry, that's just silly, if there are people who want to buy it. Surely they can buy more.

 

Hopefully I can get my response in before the thread gets locked or deleted. 😇😉

 

I was sitting in the English Pub at closing time the first night when they started pulling to Shiner bottles off the shelf & putting in storage.  I asked why & they said saving it for the next departure.  and that there were not "allowed to sell it after the first night".

 

I tried to Google the answer & all I found is that Shiner is sold in every state except Hawaii. My guess it has something to do with distribution rights and maybe Shiner only can be sold domestically?

[George C]

6 minutes ago, HBE4 said:

 

 

 

Hopefully I can get my response in before the thread gets locked or deleted. 😇😉

 

I was sitting in the English Pub at closing time the first night when they started pulling to Shiner bottles off the shelf & putting in storage.  I asked why & they said saving it for the next departure.  and that there were not "allowed to sell it after the first night".

 

I tried to Google the answer & all I found is that Shiner is sold in every state except Hawaii. My guess it has something to do with distribution rights and maybe Shiner only can be sold domestically?

All there liquor is back to normal after the ship sails out a bit normally about 7 pm you can order the good stuff.

[HBE4]

4 minutes ago, George C said:

All there liquor is back to normal after the ship sails out a bit normally about 7 pm you can order the good stuff.

 

That's the confusing part. I saw them bring out the good liquor once we reached international waters but they continued to sell Shiner right up to closing time.

 

I mean, I'm a good tipper but not good enough for them to risk breaking international law. 🤣

[George C]

6 minutes ago, HBE4 said:

 

That's the confusing part. I saw them bring out the good liquor once we reached international waters but they continued to sell Shiner right up to closing time.

 

I mean, I'm a good tipper but not good enough for them to risk breaking international law. 🤣

I haven’t sailed from Texas in a few years but that was never the case in the past and I have sailed on rccl out of Galveston over 6 times. Maybe something has changed.

[flamingos]

25 minutes ago, HBE4 said:

, so 

 

 

Hopefully I can get my response in before the thread gets locked or deleted. 😇😉

 

I was sitting in the English Pub at closing time the first night when they started pulling to Shiner bottles off the shelf & putting in storage.  I asked why & they said saving it for the next departure.  and that there were not "allowed to sell it after the first night".

 

I tried to Google the answer & all I found is that Shiner is sold in every state except Hawaii. My guess it has something to do with distribution rights and maybe Shiner only can be sold domestically?

Weird.  I googled it and found a discussion on cruise critic Carnival forum from 2009, so it's not a new issue.  Surely someone knows the answer.

Edited March 9, 2022 by flamingos

[ULCajunCruiser]

8 minutes ago, HBE4 said:

 

That's the confusing part. I saw them bring out the good liquor once we reached international waters but they continued to sell Shiner right up to closing time.

 

I mean, I'm a good tipper but not good enough for them to risk breaking international law. 🤣

Just don't think the "laws" have anything to do with it.   If I had to take a guess, I'd say it's more a supply issue.   They buy enough to offer during their time in Texas waters, but can't (or won't) buy enough to last the entire cruise???

[HBE4]

8 minutes ago, George C said:

I haven’t sailed from Texas in a few years but that was never the case in the past and I have sailed on rccl out of Galveston over 6 times. Maybe something has changed.

 

It was my one and only time sailing out of Galveston. Nov, 2018 to be exact.  Maybe I lucked out & got a new bartender that didn't know the precise details of the rules.

 

Or as others said, they only by enough Shiner for the first day.

[George C]

12 minutes ago, flamingos said:

Weird.  I googled it and found a discussion on cruise critic Carnival forum from 2009, so it's not a new issue.  Surely someone knows the answer.

I believe carnival didn’t have drink package the first day not same as rccl , also did a Princess from Texas a long time ago and that was ok also.