Houston Texas Criminal Defense Attorney Andy Nolen is one of the Best Criminal Defense Lawyers in Houston
OVER 15 YEARS CRIMINAL LAW EXPERIENCE
LICENSED IN BOTH STATE AND FEDERAL COURT
Houston Criminal
Lawyer Andy Nolen
has over

15 years  experience

practicing criminal
law in Houston
Texas.

He is one of the best
Houston criminal
lawyers with more
than

500 cases
dismissed
Attorney Andy Nolen, Experienced Criminal Defense
Over 500 Criminal Cases Dismissed
713-697-4373
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Flexible Appointments
One of the most experienced Houston defense  lawyers, Attorney Andy Nolen,  represents people who have been accused of a state crime or Houston  
law, including in communities such as League City, Angleton, Pearland, Alvin, Clear Lake, Sugar Land, The Woodlands, Baytown, Pasadena, Memorial,
Spring Branch, River Oaks, West University, and Bellaire. Counties That Houston criminal attorney Andy Nolen serves include: Galveston County • Fort
Bend County • Montgomery County • Brazoria County • Harris County.  Cases handled include: Probation Violations, Theft, Shoplifting, Drunk Driving,
Evading Arrest, and all other Felonies and Misdemeanors.
ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CODE
CHAPTER 25. WINE AND BEER RETAILER'S PERMIT

Sec. 25.01.  AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES.  The holder of a wine and beer
retailer's permit may sell:
(1)  for consumption on or off the premises where sold, but not for
resale, wine, beer, and malt liquors containing alcohol in excess of
one-half of one percent by volume and not more than 17 percent by
volume;  and
(2)  for consumption on the premises traditional port or sherry
containing alcohol in excess of one-half of one percent by volume and
not more than 24 percent by volume.
Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 425, ch. 194, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977.  
Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 934, Sec. 29, eff. Sept. 1, 1993;  
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 418, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
Sec. 25.02.  FEE.  (a)  Except as provided in Subsection (b) and
Section 25.03, the annual state fee for a wine and beer retailer's
permit is $175.
(b)  The annual state fee for a wine and beer retailer's permit in
connection with an establishment located in a county with a
population of 1.4 million or more is $750.  The original application fee
for a wine and beer retailer's permit in connection with an
establishment located in a county with a population of 1.4 million or
more is $1,000.
Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 425, ch. 194, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977.  
Amended by Acts 1983, 68th Leg., p. 1345, ch. 278, Sec. 14, eff. Sept.
1, 1983.
Amended by:
Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 452, Sec. 4, eff. September 1, 2005.
Sec. 25.03.  RAILWAY CARS AND EXCURSION BOATS:  PERMITS, FEES.  
(a)  A wine and beer retailer's permit may be issued for railway dining,
buffet, or club cars on the payment of an annual state fee of $30 for
each car.
(b)  A wine and beer retailer's permit may be issued for a regularly
scheduled excursion boat which is licensed by the United States Coast
Guard to carry passengers on the navigable waters of the state and
which has a tonnage of not less than 35 tons, a length of not less
than 55 feet, and a passenger capacity of not less than 45
passengers.  The annual state fee for the permit is $130.
(c)  Application for a permit for a railway car or an excursion boat and
payment of the required fee shall be made directly to the commission.
(d)  A permit for a railway car or an excursion boat is inoperative in a
dry area.
Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 425, ch. 194, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977.  
Amended by Acts 1983, 68th Leg., p. 1345, ch. 278, Sec. 15, eff. Sept.
1, 1983.
Sec. 25.04.  ISSUANCE, CANCELLATION, AND SUSPENSION OF PERMIT.  
(a)  A wine and beer retailer's permit is issued by the commission or
administrator.  The qualification of applicants and the application for
and issuance of the permit are governed by the same provisions
which apply to the application for and issuance of a retail dealer's
on-premise license.
(b)  The provisions of this code applicable to the cancellation and
suspension of a retail dealer's on-premise license also apply to the
cancellation and suspension of a wine and beer retailer's permit.
Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 426, ch. 194, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977.
Sec. 25.05.  HEARINGS ON PERMIT APPLICATION:  NOTICE AND
ATTENDANCE.  (a)  On receipt of an original application for a wine and
beer retailer's permit, the county judge shall give notice of all hearings
before him concerning the application to the commission, the sheriff,
and the chief of police of the incorporated city in which, or nearest
which, the premises for which the permit is sought are located.
(b)  The individual natural person applying for the permit or, if the
applicant is not an individual natural person, the individual partner,
officer, trustee, or receiver who will be primarily responsible for the
management of the premises shall attend any hearing involving the
application.
Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 426, ch. 194, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977.
Sec. 25.051.  MASTERS IN CERTAIN COUNTIES.  (a)  The county judge
of a county with a population of 1.3 million or more may appoint a
master to hear a permit application under this chapter in the manner
provided by Section 61.311 of this code for the appointment of a
master to hear a license application.
(b)  A master shall give notice of a hearing before the master to each
person entitled to notice of a hearing before a judge under Section
25.05 of this code.
Added by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 674, Sec. 3.04, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.  
Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 669, Sec. 3, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
Sec. 25.052.  DELEGATION OF DUTIES OF COUNTY JUDGE.  A county
judge may delegate the duty to hear a permit application under this
chapter in the manner provided by Section 61.312 of this code for the
delegation of the duty to hear a license application.
Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 137, Sec. 1, eff. May 25, 1989.
Sec. 25.06.  DENIAL OF ORIGINAL APPLICATION.  (a)  The county judge
shall deny an original application for a wine and beer retailer's permit
if he finds That the applicant, or the applicant's spouse, during the five
years immediately preceding the application, was finally convicted of a
felony or one of the following offenses:
(1)  prostitution;
(2)  a vagrancy offense involving moral turpitude;
(3)  bookmaking;
(4)  gambling or gaming;
(5)  an offense involving controlled substances as defined in Chapter
481, Health and Safety Code or other dangerous drugs;
(6)  a violation of this code resulting in the cancellation of a license or
permit, or a fine of not less than $500;
(7)  more than three violations of this code relating to minors;
(8)  bootlegging;  or
(9)  an offense involving firearms or a deadly weapon.
(b)  The county judge shall also deny an original application for a
permit if he finds That five years have not elapsed since the
termination of a sentence, parole, or probation served by the
applicant or the applicant's spouse because of a felony conviction or
conviction of any of the offenses described in Subsection (a) of this
section.
(c)  The commission shall refuse to issue a renewal of a wine or beer
retailer's permit if it finds:
(1)  That the applicant, or the applicant's spouse, has been convicted
of a felony or one of the offenses listed in Subsection (a) of this
section at any time during the five years immediately preceding the
filing of the application for renewal;  or
(2)  That five years have not elapsed since the termination of a
sentence, parole, or probation served by the applicant, or the
applicant's spouse, of a felony conviction or conviction of any of the
offenses described in Subsection (a) of this section.
(d)  In this section the word "applicant" includes the individual natural
person holding or applying for the permit or, if the holder or applicant
is not an individual natural person, the individual partner, officer,
trustee, or receiver who is primarily responsible for the management
of the premises.
Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 426, ch. 194, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977.  
Amended by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 14, Sec. 284(56), eff. Sept. 1,
1991;  Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 625, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.
Sec. 25.09.  POSSESSION OF CERTAIN BEVERAGES PROHIBITED.  No
wine and beer retailer's permittee, nor officer of the permittee, may
possess distilled spirits or liquor containing alcohol in excess of 17
percent by volume on the licensed premises.
Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 427, ch. 194, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977.  
Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 418, Sec. 3, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
Sec. 25.10.  APPLICATION OF OTHER CODE PROVISIONS.  Sections
61.78, 61.81, 61.82, and 61.84 of this code also apply to a wine and
beer retailer's permit.  The restrictions in this code relating to beer as
to the application of local restrictions, sales to minors and intoxicated
persons, age of employees, and the use of blinds or barriers apply to
the sale of alcoholic beverages by a wine and beer retailer's permittee.
Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 427, ch. 194, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977.
Sec. 25.11.  SEATING AREA REQUIRED.  A wine and beer retailer's
permittee must have an area designated on the premises for the
permittee's customers to sit if they wish to consume beverages sold
by the permittee on the premises.
Added by Acts 1983, 68th Leg., p. 2211, ch. 414, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,
1983.
Sec. 25.12.  PREMISES IN A FOOD COURT.  (a)  Notwithstanding any
provision of this code to the contrary, the premises of a wine and beer
retailer's permittee who leases space in a food court includes the
seating area That the permittee shares with the other lessees That
occupy the food court.
(b)  For the purposes of this section, "food court" means an area in a
shopping mall That includes a seating area and the locations of three
or more separate but adjacent business establishments engaged
primarily in the sale of food and beverages for consumption in the
seating area.
Added by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 582, Sec. 2, eff. Aug. 31, 1987.
Sec. 25.13.  FOOD AND BEVERAGE CERTIFICATE.  (a)  A holder of a
wine and beer retailer's permit may be issued a food and beverage
certificate by the commission if food service is the primary business
being operated on the premises by the permittee.
(b)  An applicant or holder of a food and beverage certificate shall
have food service facilities for the preparation and service of multiple
entrees.  The commission shall adopt rules as necessary to assure
That the holder of a food and beverage certificate maintains food
service as the primary business on the premises for which a food and
beverage certificate has been issued.  The commission may exempt
permittees who are concessionaires in public entertainment venues
such as sports stadiums and convention centers from the requirement
That food service be the primary business on the premises.
(c)  The fee for a food and beverage certificate shall be set at a level
sufficient to recover the cost of issuing the certificate and
administering this section.
(d)  A certificate issued under this section expires on the expiration of
the primary wine and beer retailer's permit.  A certificate may be
canceled at any time if the commission finds That the holder of the
certificate is not operating primarily as a food service establishment.  
For the purposes of this section, it shall be presumed That a permittee
is not primarily operating as a food service establishment if alcohol
sales are in excess of 50 percent of the gross receipts of the
premises.  The commission may impose a fine not to exceed $5,000 on
the holder of a food and beverage certificate not operating as a food
service establishment and may, upon finding That the permittee
knowingly operated under a food and beverage certificate while not
complying with this section, cancel the permittee's wine and beer
retailer's permit.
(e)  Section 11.11 does not apply to the holder of a food and
beverage certificate.
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