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Which Texas Bars and Restaurants Can Cater Alcohol?

In Texas, a bar or restaurant doesn't need a separate catering permit to serve alcohol at an off-site event. Mixed Beverage, beer-and-wine and private club permits all include the authority to hold events at a temporary location, after the business goes through TABC's approval process.

Permits that can hold off-site events

MB, Mixed Beverage Permit: liquor, wine and beer at the event.
BG, Wine and Malt Beverage Retailer's Permit: beer and wine.
BE, Retail Dealer's On-Premise License: beer.
N, NB and NE, private club permits: for the club's events away from its own location.

Each event goes through TABC's temporary event approval process before alcohol is served there. Separately, a nonprofit can get a Nonprofit Entity Temporary Event Permit (NT) to sell, serve and auction alcohol at a one-time event of its own.

Hiring a bar to cater

Check that the business's permit is Active, not suspended or expired.
Match the permit to the drinks you want: cocktails need an MB; a beer-and-wine event can use a BG.
Ask the business to handle TABC's event approval before the date.

Find every license in your area that can cater or hold events, with owner and address. All licenses

Sources: TABC License and Permit Types. This guide explains what public records show; it isn't legal advice. Check with TABC before acting on a licensing question.

Questions

Do Texas restaurants need a catering permit to serve alcohol at events?

No separate catering permit is needed. Mixed Beverage, beer-and-wine and private club permits include authority to hold events at a temporary location after TABC's approval process.

Can a beer and wine bar cater an event in Texas?

Yes. A BG permit holder can serve beer and wine at an off-site event after going through TABC's temporary event approval process.

What permit does a nonprofit need for an event with alcohol?

A Nonprofit Entity Temporary Event Permit (NT) lets a qualifying nonprofit sell, serve and auction alcohol at a temporary event.

More permit guides

TABC Permit Types Explained: Every Texas Alcohol License CodeWhat MB, BG, BE, N, FB, LH, CD and the other TABC license codes mean, which ones bars and restaurants hold, and how to look up any business's permits.On-Premise vs Off-Premise Alcohol Permits in TexasThe difference between on-premise and off-premise TABC permits, which businesses hold each, what to-go rules apply, and why only on-premise sales are public.Texas Alcohol Taxes: What Bars Pay vs What Stores Pay (Current Rates)Current Texas alcohol tax rates: the 6.7% mixed beverage gross receipts tax, the 8.25% mixed beverage sales tax, sales tax on store purchases, and excise taxes per gallon.The History of the TABC and Why It ExistsHow the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission came out of the end of Prohibition, what it does today, and why Texas regulates alcohol the way it does.TABC Certification: Why Bars Recertify Their Staff Every Two YearsWhat TABC seller/server certification is, whether Texas requires it, why it expires after two years, and how keeping staff current protects a bar's license.Texas To-Go Cocktail Rules: What You Can and Can't BuyMyths and truths about buying cocktails, beer and wine to go from Texas restaurants: the food rule, sealed containers, ID, delivery limits and where to keep it in the car.What Is a Texas Mixed Beverage Permit (MB)?What a TABC Mixed Beverage Permit allows, how MB holders buy liquor, to-go cocktail rules, and how to see any MB holder's monthly sales.Beer and Wine Permits in Texas: BG vs BEThe difference between a TABC BG permit and a BE license, what each allows for to-go and delivery, and why beer-and-wine places have no public sales.Texas Private Club Permits: N, NB and NE ExplainedHow Texas private club permits work, the difference between N, NB and NE, why clubs can serve in dry areas, and how to see a club's sales.TABC Food and Beverage (FB) and Late Hours (LH) CertificatesWhat the FB and LH codes on a Texas liquor license mean, who qualifies, and how they affect to-go drinks, closing time and required signs.The Red 51% Sign in Texas Bars: What It MeansWhy some Texas bars post the red 51% handgun sign, which businesses must post it, and what the RED and BLUE values in TABC's records mean.Texas Consumer Delivery Permit (CD): Who Can Deliver AlcoholWhat a TABC Consumer Delivery Permit is, which companies hold one, and how bars, restaurants and stores deliver alcohol to customers in Texas.How to Look Up a Texas Liquor License (and a Bar's Sales)Three ways to look up any Texas bar or restaurant's TABC license: who owns it, what it can serve, whether it's active, and how much alcohol it sells.