TABC Permit Types Explained: Every Texas Alcohol License Code

Every Texas business that sells alcohol holds a TABC license or permit, and each one has a short code like MB or BG. The code tells you what the business can pour, whether it can sell to go, and whether its sales are public. Here is what each code means.

The permits bars and restaurants hold

Only MB and the private club permits (N, NB, NE) report their alcohol sales to the Texas Comptroller each month, which is why those are the places with public sales figures. Beer-and-wine places (BG and BE) don't file those reports.

Add-on certificates

TABC calls these subordinate licenses. They attach to a main permit and show up next to it in the records.

• FB, Food and Beverage Certificate: the business qualifies as a restaurant. It matters for to-go cocktails and which signs a place must post. More on FB and LH.
• LH, Late Hours Certificate: lets the business sell and serve from midnight to 2 a.m.
• BP, Brewpub License: for an MB, BG or BE holder that brews its own beer on site.
• E, Local Cartage Permit: lets a BG holder deliver to customers in its own county.
• LP, Local Distributor's Permit: lets a package store sell liquor to bars and private clubs. It's how an MB holder buys its spirits.

Stores and off-premise sales

• P, Package Store Permit: liquor, wine and beer to go (about 3,700 active).
• Q, Wine-Only Package Store Permit: wine and beer to go (about 6,000 active).
• BQ, Wine and Malt Beverage Retailer's Off-Premise Permit: beer and wine to go, the typical grocery and convenience store permit (about 18,000 active).
• BF, Retail Dealer's Off-Premise License: beer to go (315 active).

Delivery, events and transportation

• CD, Consumer Delivery Permit: for delivery companies and their drivers (12 active statewide). Who holds one.
• NT, Nonprofit Entity Temporary Event Permit: lets a nonprofit sell, serve and auction alcohol at a one-time event.
• TR, Passenger Transportation Permit: airlines, buses, boats and trains serving drinks on board.
• ET, Third-Party Local Cartage Permit and C, Carrier's Permit: companies that move alcohol for other licensed businesses.

Makers and distributors

Brewers (BW), wineries (G), distillers (D), beer distributors (BB, BC) and liquor and wine wholesalers (W, X) each have their own codes, along with out-of-state shippers (DS, BN, S). You'll rarely see these on a bar's record, but they show up when you search an owner who also runs a brewery or winery.

Reading a permit number

A current permit number is the code plus a number, like MB200102801. Older permits issued before TABC's current system use a shorter number, like MB817033. Both point to the same kind of record. One owner can hold many permits, one per location, and TABC groups them under the owner's master file.

Look up any Texas bar or restaurant by name, owner or address to see its permits, add-ons and sales. Search Bar Sales IQ

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

What does MB mean on a TABC license?

MB is a Mixed Beverage Permit. It lets a business serve liquor, wine and beer for drinking on site. Most full bars and restaurants with cocktails hold one.

What is the difference between BG and BE?

A BG permit covers beer and wine, for drinking on site or to go. A BE license covers beer for drinking on site. Neither allows liquor.

Which TABC permits have public sales figures?

Mixed Beverage (MB) and private club permits (N, NB, NE) report alcohol sales to the Texas Comptroller every month, and the State publishes those reports. Beer-and-wine permits don't.