Measure heads to the full Senate for consideration
The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) today applauded the Texas Senate State Affairs Committee for passing SB 2225, a bill to allow spirits ready-to-drink cocktails (RTDs) to be sold in grocery and convenience stores where beer- and wine-based beverages with the same alcohol content are already being sold. The committee approved the measure late last night. The bill now heads to the full Senate for consideration.
If passed, the bill would be effective September 1, 2025, just in time for football season.
“Texans’ favorite spirits ready-to-drink cocktails could be in grocery and convenience stores alongside beer and wine just in time for football season this year,” said Corey Staniscia, DISCUS vice president of state government relations. “The Legislature has taken another step in moving forward this consumer- and business-friendly measure that adds additional market access for adult spirits consumers in Texas. We urge the Senate to pass SB 2225 to increase consumer convenience and keep the government out of picking winners and losers in the marketplace.”
A similar bill introduced by Representatives Cody Vasut (R-Angleton) and John Bucy III (D-Austin), HB 4077, was heard before the House Licensing & Administrative Procedures Committee last week.
A grassroots campaign, Texans 4 Market Freedom, is underway in support of the bills and has generated nearly 2,000 letters from Texas consumers to lawmakers in Austin urging them to support allowing spirits RTDs in grocery and convenience stores. Consumers can still make their voice heard by taking action here.
The proposed bill, introduced by Senator Kelly Hancock (R-Fort Worth), would allow spirits-based RTDs with no greater than 17% alcohol-by-volume (ABV) to be sold where similar beer and wine products are already sold in Texas, including grocery and convenience stores.