- The
Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) has temporarily suspended alcohol licenses for 12 bars in the state, following the launch of an undercover operation. - The operation "is an effort by TABC agents to inspect businesses across Texas to ensure they're following protocols to slow the spread of
COVID-19 ," the agency said in a statement on Sunday. - Texas began the third phase of its reopening plan in early June, leading to a spike in new
coronavirus cases.
Following an undercover operation to enforce its coronavirus safety policies, the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) has temporarily suspended alcohol permits for 12 bars across the state, the agency said on Sunday.
"Operation Safe Open is an effort by TABC agents to inspect businesses across Texas to ensure they're following protocols to slow the spread of COVID-19," the commission said in a statement. "These requirements include indoor customer capacity limits of 50% for bars and 75% for restaurants, along with social distancing of at least 6 feet between groups of customers."
The operation, which began on Friday, has led to suspended permits for three bars in Austin, two each in Dallas and El Paso, and one apiece in Houston, Fort Worth, Lubbock, and elsewhere. Their licenses are suspended for 30 days, according to the agency. A second violation will result in a 60-day suspension.
"Protecting the health and safety of Texans during this pandemic is our top priority," Bentley Nettles, executive director of the TABC, said. "We warned businesses TABC will have no tolerance for breaking the rules, and now, some bars are paying the price. I hope other establishments will learn from these suspensions."
Like other Southern and Southwestern states, Texas is seeing a surge in cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, since reopening businesses. The state reported 4,132 new cases on June 21, according to Johns Hopkins University data, almost three weeks after the state initiated Phase Three of reopening, which allowed almost all businesses to operate at 50% capacity. On June 19, the state reported a record 4,430 new cases.
Bars were first allowed to reopen in Phase Two, on May 22, at 25% capacity. Since June 3, they've been allowed to operate at 50% capacity.
According to state health guidance, bar patrons must be seated, groups must maintain social distancing from each other and cannot be larger than 10 people, and "activities than enable close human contact," like dancing, are "discouraged." Masks are not required, but patrons are instructed to "consider" wearing them "if available."
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, urged states not to abandon strict safety measures to reopen businesses.
"When I look at the TV and I see pictures of people congregating at bars when the location they are indicates they shouldn't be doing that, that's very risky," Fauci said in an interview last week.
"People keep talking about a second wave," he said. "We're still in a first wave."