Texas Importation of Alcoholic Beverages

[BourbonKiller]

So according to the TABC I am only allowed to bring 1 quart of distilled spirits into the state of Texas. Non-residents can bring a whopping 1 gallon.

Super Bogus!

So traveling to Kentucy to stock up on booze will turn me into a Bootlegger!

So much for going on a legal Bourbon road trip anywhere outside of Texas.

[doubleblank]

It's really only a problem when stepping off the cruise ship in Galveston. No one is going to stop you in Texarkana to search your trunk.

A more realistic issue might pop up if you're traveling thru a dry county in Texas. Many have laws where having in excess of 1 quart of liquor in your possession is considered prima facie evidence of intent to distribute. Imagine getting pulled over for a tail light burned out and he sees your three cases of Kentucky's best in the back seat. If he wants to make your life miserable for a few days, he could sure do it.

Randy

[MarkEdwards]

So according to the TABC I am only allowed to bring 1 quart of distilled spirits into the state of Texas. Non-residents can bring a whopping 1 gallon.

Super Bogus!

So traveling to Kentucy to stock up on booze will turn me into a Bootlegger!

So much for going on a legal Bourbon road trip anywhere outside of Texas.

Gah! What is wrong in this state (and many others, I'm sure) that allows the kind of stupid assumptions about 'intent to distribute'?

[ThomasH]

I would plead the case of intent to eventually comnsume!

Thomas

[gburger]

When I came back from Kentucky last month I had a large suitcase made for camera gear with 9 bottles in it. Checked it in at Southwest. No issues.

[Ian S.]

When I came back from Kentucky last month I had a large suitcase made for camera gear with 9 bottles in it. Checked it in at Southwest. No issues.

I have also checked in baggage with bourbon, as well as driving into Texas with cases of it. No issues thus far.

[cowdery]

Contrary to what many Texans believe, Texas is no longer an independent country and there is no Customs declaration when you arrive from other states. And the airlines don't care. As long as you're not carrying hazmat Stagg.

[Ian S.]

Contrary to what many Texans believe, Texas is no longer an independent country and there is no Customs declaration when you arrive from other states.

One of the many reasons that I am happy to not be a native Texan. :slappin:

[gburger]

God Bless Texas!!

[timd]

When I moved down here the movers wouldn't take my liquor because of TX laws... they usually have no issue with somebody with a half-dozen bottles or so, but with my many bottles of various whisk(e)y, they said that "interstate transport would be an issue" and I'd have to "make other arrangements"!

So... I put it all in our U haul and gritted my teeth as I crossed the state line. But - once you are IN Texas, they have no way of knowing you didn't already have it, and no way to check. BUT - if it was in the car, and uncorked, they could nail you for "open container" violations...

As noted (other than at the Mexico border) there are no checkpoints... so I don't see it as truly enforceable in any practical way, but *legally* I wasn't allowed to bring my stash other than, essentially, my 2 favorite bottles...

(FWIW: there are NO such restrictions on wine or beer - only on liquor)

[MarkEdwards]

Contrary to what many Texans believe, Texas is no longer an independent country and there is no Customs declaration when you arrive from other states. And the airlines don't care. As long as you're not carrying hazmat Stagg.

We're NOT? Grumble... grumble... Gotta take down the machine gun emplacements again.

Seriously, though, I am still irritated at the "It's SINFUL!" nature of the laws that are still in place, regardless of how frequently they are enforced. All it takes is once.

[theDon]

This state is all about guns and alcohol and I'm proud to be a gun toting (responsible father, business man and husband) bourbon drinker. I have carried my gun across state lines legally and I have carried my booze across state lines, apparently illegally. Can I get a permit for that too, cause Oklahoma is holding a few things for me and I need to make a run for the border.....soon!

[dmarkle]

Contrary to what many Texans believe, Texas is no longer an independent country and there is no Customs declaration when you arrive from other states. And the airlines don't care. As long as you're not carrying hazmat Stagg.

And if you believe the Mexicans, it never was!

[BourbonKiller]

(FWIW: there are NO such restrictions on wine or beer - only on liquor)

[wadewood]

sigh....and in 27 states sodomy is still against the law.

[timd]

The TABC publication states otherwise:

That's just for bringing it across from Mexico - but MOVING to Texas is different:

http://www.tabc.state.tx.us/poe/moving_to_texas.asp

Texas law allows a person to import an unlimited personal wine collection along with their household goods when relocating to Texas. There is no paperwork involved and the typical state taxes are not owed. If you are moving to Texas from outside of the United States, you should contact U.S. Customs regarding federal regulations and taxes.

From the Alcoholic Beverage Code: Sec. 107.11. Importation Of Personal Wine Collection.

(a) A person who is relocating a household may import, or contract with a motor carrier or another person to import, a personal wine collection as a part of that person's household goods.

( Section 107.07 of this code [regarding taxes and importation limits] does not apply to a person who is importing a personal wine collection under Subsection (a) of this section.

Unfortunately, similar laws do not exist for beer or distilled spirits. A Texas resident may import no more than a quart of distilled spirits and 24 12-ounce containers of beer.

*I was wrong about beer - it's also limited and liquor is even MORE regulated, it's just the winos that get a free pass.:smiley_acbt:

[BourbonKiller]

That's just for bringing it across from Mexico

I agree that current enforcement is when you are coming back from Mexico but the TABC wording states the following:

"The TABC would like to remind you that when traveling to Mexico and other locations outside Texas, it is important to remember your rights and limitations regarding the amount of alcoholic beverage and cigarettes that you can bring back into our state."

Making any potential out of state legal Bourbon/Whiskey runs limited to one quart of product.

sigh...

The moving deal is great for wine afficionados... I am guessing lawmakers do not believe there are any whiskey afficinados, just us degenerate hard liquor drunkards.

[jcg9779]

That's just for bringing it across from Mexico - but MOVING to Texas is different:

http://www.tabc.state.tx.us/poe/moving_to_texas.asp

*I was wrong about beer - it's also limited and liquor is even MORE regulated, it's just the winos that get a free pass.:smiley_acbt:

When I moved to Dallas I was advised ahead of time that they wouldn't move my liquor, so I wrapped every bottle and stashed them in various boxes. It all arrived safe and sound!

[cowdery]

They don't make an effort to enforce these laws because if they were enforced they could be tested. For example, one could easily argue that making an exception for wine is arbitrary and it's either all alcoholic beverages or none.

As it is, having the laws on the books has some deterrence value, or so the regulators would argue.

Tennessee has similar laws and I'm sure other states do too.

They're really trying to prevent unlicensed commercial distribution schemes, not collectors, but the law isn't carefully written to exempt collectors either.

Yes, at bottom the problem is that the fundamental premise of most alcohol laws is that alcohol is uniquely hazardous and, therefore, must be regulated unlike any other food or beverage. For some people, the fact that their religion teaches that alcohol is evil helps them believe it is uniquely hazardous.

Tennessee law actually limits how much you can possess, in your home, and it's in the neighborhood of about a dozen bottles. Every collector is Tennessee is a criminal. Tennessee law also has the deal where transportation over a certain amount is prima facie dealing.

The problem is, when these laws were written, they intended to accommodate someone having a big party, but they never considered collectors.

When Tennessee recently busted a big collector who they believed was dealing, they settled the case out of court for a little bit of forfeiture and a promise not to sin again. They tested nothing and proved nothing, except they did cause the guy some grief and put the rest of the state on notice that it could happen to them too.

What's that called? Police state terrorism?

[G.H.Adams]

Well I'm glad I didn't get stopped in Texas last week. On my trip from Minnesota through Texas I had 48 750 ml bottles stashed in my truck along with 4- 1 liter bottles.

[MarkEdwards]

Well I'm glad I didn't get stopped in Texas last week. On my trip from Minnesota through Texas I had 48 750 ml bottles stashed in my truck along with 4- 1 liter bottles.

[cowdery]

Maybe the scientifically-inclined can answer this. Will 40% abv spirits combust? Under any circumstances? What about 50%? 60%? 70%? It just seems like a solution that is 40% alcohol, 60% water, contains too much water to be of any use as fuel.

We know it will burn at 60% to 70%, because that's what the whiskey in barrels is and we have ample evidence that burns.

[Yalc]

I am no scientist but when I was reading up on the history of the term "proof" it seems to have come from the British Navy looking to prove that the rum they were receiving was not too watered down. If it was at least 100 proof (50% abv) then gunpowder wetted with it would still ignite. Doesn't actually answer the question but I found it interesting.

[MarkEdwards]

Maybe the scientifically-inclined can answer this. Will 40% abv spirits combust? Under any circumstances? What about 50%? 60%? 70%? It just seems like a solution that is 40% alcohol, 60% water, contains too much water to be of any use as fuel.

We know it will burn at 60% to 70%, because that's what the whiskey in barrels is and we have ample evidence that burns.

I found this chart:

http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/ethanol-water-d_989.html

[Special Reserve]

I found this chart:

http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/ethanol-water-d_989.html

Good post. When reading this thread, my immediate thought was it will burn at a lower concentration but at what temperature. Question answered.