By DINA ARÉVALO
Port Isabel-South Padre Press
editor@portisabelsouthpadre.com
In preparation for Spring Break 2016, the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) hosted a meeting Tuesday for local retailers who sell or serve alcohol. A representative from the State Comptroller’s Office was also on hand to help explain relevant tax laws.
South Padre Island Chief of Police Randy Smith said officials expect to see an increase in Spring Break traffic this year thanks in part to changes at other Spring Break hot spots. Panama City, Florida, for instance, has banned alcohol on their beaches, while closer to home Port Aransas has instituted a curfew, the chief said.
“Just be ready. It’s going to be a very busy year,” Smith said, adding that Semana Santa will immediately follow Texas Week.
TABC Sgt. Brent Puente agreed. “We’re expecting some numbers we haven’t seen in quite some time,” he said.
Puente spoke on several topics, including ways retailers can help protect themselves via the Safe Harbor Program. “If you participate, your staff will be well trained,” Puente said. In addition, if a legal violation occurs, the actions of an employee may not be attributed to the employer, he said.
In order for a retailer to qualify for the Safe Harbor Program, employees who sell or serve alcohol must have been certified by a TABC approved program within the past 30 days, any seller/server violations cannot be committed by an “owner or officer” of the business, a written serving/selling policy must be posted, management must not encourage violations and a business can have no more than three violations.
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