Alcoholic Beverage Code § 109.61

Sec. 109.61. USE OF CERTAIN ELECTRONICALLY READABLE INFORMATION. (a) A person may access electronically readable information on a driver's license, commercial driver's license, or identification certificate for the purpose of complying with this code or a rule of the commission, including for the purpose of preventing the person from committing an offense under this code. (a-1) A person shall visually inspect and access electronically readable information on a driver's license, commercial driver's license, or identification certificate for the purpose of verifying a purchaser's age in any retail sale of an alcoholic beverage on a permitted or licensed premises for off-premises consumption. A person required to access electronically readable information under this subsection may manually enter into an electronic reader the information on the driver's license, commercial driver's license, or identification certificate if the license or certificate cannot be electronically scanned. This subsection does not apply to: (1) the retail sale of an alcoholic beverage on the premises of: (A) the holder of: (i) a distiller's and rectifier's permit; (ii) a winery permit; (iii) a brewer's license; (iv) a brewpub license; or (v) a mixed beverage permit; (B) the holder of a food and beverage certificate operating a restaurant on the premises; or (C) a restaurant; (2) the retail sale of an alcoholic beverage at a public entertainment facility property, as defined by Section 108.73, during a sporting event, concert, festival, or other similar temporary event at the facility by a permit or license holder authorized to sell alcoholic beverages during the event; (3) the holder of a carrier permit delivering wine to an ultimate consumer on behalf of the holder of an out-of-state winery direct shipper's permit; (4) the holder of or an individual contracted with or employed by the holder of a wine only package store permit, local cartage permit, or consumer delivery permit delivering alcoholic beverages to an ultimate consumer as provided by Chapter 24, 43, or 57, as applicable; or (5) the retail sale of an alcoholic beverage in an original container sealed by the manufacturer where a person picks up the alcoholic beverage at an outdoor area on the retailer's premises and removes the alcoholic beverage from the premises for consumption by an ultimate consumer off the premises. (a-2) The commission may not take any disciplinary action against the holder of a permit or license issued under this code for a violation of Subsection (a-1) if: (1) the permit or license holder's failure to access the electronically readable information is a result of a disruption of, interruption of, or inability to access Internet connectivity services or data connectivity services; and (2) the permit or license holder visually inspected the purchaser's driver's license, commercial driver's license, or identification certificate to verify the purchaser's age. (a-3) The commission may not take any disciplinary action against the holder of a permit or license to whom Subsection (a-1) applies for selling an alcoholic beverage to a minor if: (1) the permit or license holder electronically accessed the electronically readable information on the purchaser's driver's license, commercial driver's license, or identification certificate in the manner required under Subsection (a-1); and (2) the transaction scan device used to electronically access the purchaser's electronically readable information identified the license or certificate as valid and the purchaser as 21 years of age or older on the date of the purchase. (a-4) The commission shall not take any disciplinary action against the holder of a permit or license issued under this code for a violation of Subsection (a-1) for the retail sale of an alcoholic beverage made before September 1, 2027. This subsection expires September 1, 2028. (b) A person may not retain information accessed under this section. (b-1) Information retained may be printed to hard copy with a time and date confirmation from the transaction scan device or transferred to an electronic encrypted data storage or electronic record. After printing or transferring data, the transaction scan device may clear the scanned information from the device or any memory in the device. The commission by rule may set further requirements for the retention of information under this subsection. (c) Information accessed under this section may not be marketed in any manner. (d) Except as provided by Subsection (d-1), a person who violates this section commits an offense. An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor. (d-1) It is a defense to prosecution for failure to access electronically readable information on a driver's license, commercial driver's license, or identification certificate as required by Subsection (a-1) that: (1) the person's failure to access the electronically readable information as required by Subsection (a-1) was caused by a disruption of, interruption of, or inability to access Internet connectivity services or data connectivity services that prevented the person from accessing the information; or (2) the purchaser was 40 years of age or older on the date of the purchase. (e) It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under this code, for an offense having as an element the age of a person, that: (1) a transaction scan device identified the license or certificate of the purchaser as valid and that the person is over 21, and the defendant accessed the information and relied on the results in good faith; or (2) if the defendant is the owner of a store in which alcoholic beverages are sold at retail, the offense occurs in connection with a sale by an employee of the owner, and the owner had provided the employee with: (A) a transaction scan device in working condition; (B) adequate training in the use of the transaction scan device; and (C) the defendant did not directly or indirectly encourage the employee to violate the law. (f) The defense offered in Subsection (e) does not apply in actions to cancel, deny, or suspend the license or permit, except as provided by rules adopted by the commission under Section 5.31. (g) In this section, "transaction scan device" includes an electronic age verification system authorized by commission rule operated in conjunction with a point of sale terminal that scans the purchaser's driver's license or identification certificate upon enrollment, associates the purchaser's personal identifying information, as defined by Section 521.002(1)(C), Business & Commerce Code, with the purchaser's license or identification certificate information, and is capable of allowing a seller to verify a purchaser's age solely by accessing the data and information. Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1163, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001. Amended by: Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 391 (S.B. 1465), Sec. 4, eff. September 1, 2005. Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1338 (S.B. 1828), Sec. 1, eff. June 15, 2007. Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1169 (S.B. 650), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2025.