| Vote Recommendation | Economic Freedom | Property Rights | Personal Responsibility | Limited Government | Individual Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | Positive | Neutral | Neutral | Positive | Positive |
Relating to the sale of certain wine by the holder of a wine and beer
retailer’s permit or mixed beverage permit.
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
HB 2016 would allow holders of a wine and beer retailer's permit or mixed beverage permit to sell desert-flavored wine or rice wine (in addition to traditional port or sherry as currently in statute). Mixed beverage permit-holders would additionally be allowed to purchase wine, beer, ale, and malt liquor containing alcohol of not more than 24% by volume (raised from 21%).
Texas Action recommends supporting HB 2016 because it promotes the principles of individual liberty, free markets, and limited government. This industry is vastly overregulated and micromanaged. We support this modest expansion of economic freedom for relevant license holders and encourage the legislature to consider this issue more broadly by completely reforming the archaic and anti-competitive three tier system and allowing this industry to operate in a truly free market environment.