One Surprising Loophole That Legalizes Texas Minors Drinking Alcohol

One milestone every young person looks forward to is their 21st birthday. Obtaining that age allows that young person to legally buy a 12-pack of beer at the store or a bottle of spirits at the liquor store.

Texas Alcoholic & Beverage Commission (TABC)

Preventing minors from drinking can be tricky. In my time working in bars, I had to kick out several minors, and the people buying it for them. I also encountered a couple of situations where a parent came to the bar with their minor and would want to buy a drink for that minor.

Which is Perfectly Legal to Do. What!?

Yes, if a parent or guardian wants to buy a minor an alcoholic drink, it is perfectly legal to do so as long as the parent or guardian stays with that minor. Where I worked, however, the policy of the bar was to not allow the parent or guardian to purchase a drink for the minor or even let them sip the drink.

It is left up to the establishment to determine if they will allow a parent or guardian to buy that drink for their minor. The main reason why is simply liability. Most responsible bars do not allow this even though it is legal under Texas law. It's not worth the risk.

Minors at Home

If a parent or guardian allows their minor to drink at home, that is legal. However, if something were to happen to that minor, or if they serve alcohol to a minor who is not their child, that parent or guardian can face serious legal consequences.

You can get a full rundown of all the penalties associated with underage drinking at tabc.texas.gov. You can read the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code at statutes.capitol.texas.gov.

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