Senate Bill No. 2225 seeks to regulate the manufacture, distribution, sale, and taxation of ready-to-drink spirit beverages in Texas. It introduces a new definition for "ready-to-drink spirit beverage," which includes beverages with a distilled spirit and a nonalcoholic component, containing no more than 10 percent alcohol by volume and packaged in containers not exceeding 3.75 liters. The bill amends the Alcoholic Beverage Code to allow holders of distiller's and rectifier's permits, as well as nonresident sellers, to manufacture and sell these beverages. It also mandates the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission to adopt rules for their production and sale, classifying them as spirit beverages for state tax purposes.

Additionally, the bill expands the activities permitted for various license holders, enabling them to sell ready-to-drink spirit beverages alongside other alcoholic products. It requires nonresident sellers to file monthly reports on sales within the state and allows general distributors to handle these beverages while maintaining daily transaction records. Retail dealers are permitted to sell ready-to-drink spirit beverages in lawful containers during the same hours as malt beverages, and distillers and rectifiers can sell them for both on-premises and off-premises consumption. The act is set to take effect on September 1, 2025, with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission responsible for implementing the necessary rules.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Alcoholic Beverage Code 1.04, Alcoholic Beverage Code 102.31, Alcoholic Beverage Code 102.32, Alcoholic Beverage Code 105.01 (Alcoholic Beverage Code 102, Alcoholic Beverage Code 1, Alcoholic Beverage Code 105)
Senate Committee Report: Alcoholic Beverage Code 1.04, Alcoholic Beverage Code 102.31, Alcoholic Beverage Code 102.32, Alcoholic Beverage Code 105.01 (Alcoholic Beverage Code 102, Alcoholic Beverage Code 1, Alcoholic Beverage Code 105)
Engrossed: Alcoholic Beverage Code 1.04, Alcoholic Beverage Code 14.01, Alcoholic Beverage Code 14.07, Alcoholic Beverage Code 14.071, Alcoholic Beverage Code 24.01, Alcoholic Beverage Code 25.01, Alcoholic Beverage Code 26.01, Alcoholic Beverage Code 37.01, Alcoholic Beverage Code 37.011, Alcoholic Beverage Code 37.03, Alcoholic Beverage Code 37.07, Alcoholic Beverage Code 37.08, Alcoholic Beverage Code 37.09, Alcoholic Beverage Code 37.10, Alcoholic Beverage Code 37.13, Alcoholic Beverage Code 37.14, Alcoholic Beverage Code 64.01, Alcoholic Beverage Code 64.04, Alcoholic Beverage Code 64.07, Alcoholic Beverage Code 64.10, Alcoholic Beverage Code 71.01, Alcoholic Beverage Code 101.46, Alcoholic Beverage Code 101.66, Alcoholic Beverage Code 101.671, Alcoholic Beverage Code 102.31, Alcoholic Beverage Code 105.051, Alcoholic Beverage Code 105.081, Alcoholic Beverage Code 107.10, Alcoholic Beverage Code 201.02 (Alcoholic Beverage Code 26, Alcoholic Beverage Code 102, Alcoholic Beverage Code 107, Alcoholic Beverage Code 37, Alcoholic Beverage Code 101, Alcoholic Beverage Code 1, Alcoholic Beverage Code 71, Alcoholic Beverage Code 25, Alcoholic Beverage Code 24, Alcoholic Beverage Code 64, Alcoholic Beverage Code 201, Alcoholic Beverage Code 105, Alcoholic Beverage Code 14)