TEXAS -- An undercover operation by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, or TABC, on Monday added five bars to the list of establishments cited for failing to enforce social distancing measures.

What You Need To Know


  • TABC cracking down on bars not enforcing social distancing

  • Texas bars currently limited to 50% occupancy

  • 12 bars had alcohol permits suspended this past weekend; 5 more on Monday

  • List includes 4 Austin bars and one in San Antonio 

The following bars received emergency alcohol permit suspensions Monday:

  • Burnhouse, San Antonio
  • Soho Lounge, Austin
  • The Cantina, Fort Worth
  • Electric Cowboy, Longview
  • Siete Banderas, Laredo

Related Stories

While nearly every Texas business is currently permitted to operate in Phase 3 of the plan to reopen the state’s economy, bars are currently restricted to 50 percent occupancy. In addition, bars must maintain six feet of space between groups of people.

The following bars received 30-day permit suspensions this past weekend:

  • Friday:
  • Werk Bar, El Paso
  • Marty’s Live, Dallas
  • Elevate Night Club, McAllen
  • Saturday:
  • Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden, Austin
  • Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Icehouse, Austin
  • Sunday:
  • Handlebar Houston, Houston
  • BARge 25, Seabrook
  • Harris House of Heroes, Dallas
  • The New PR's, Fort Worth
  • UnBARlievable, Austin
  • Little Woodrow's, Lubbock
  • Coconuts, El Paso

Matt Moore, who manages Austin’s Dive Bar, on Monday told Spectrum News he’s frustrated by other bars skirting or ignoring the rules as Texas experiences a sharp uptick in COVID-19 cases.

“It’s pretty aggravating to see other bars doing that, when some of us are trying so hard to keep things safe. We're trying to make a few people feel comfortable to come back out. And then other bars do this and kind of ... it's going to scare people away, people we were getting back out are going to stop," said Moore.