Process for Alcohol Permits
By: Julie Musgrave
Updated: July 15, 2009
Liquor is now for sale in one Wolfforth store. Rick's Place is the first in the county to take advantage of expanded package sales, but the process for getting an alcohol license in Lubbock is still a ways off.
TABC officials tell us Rick's was the first to apply for their liquor license, and now they're ready to go with product on their shelves, but in Lubbock city limits, of course that process is still on hold. Now, you'll remember Lubbock is prohibited from giving out any permits for at least the next 30 days. According to TABC, there've been lots of inquiries about getting that started. Essentially, you need permits from both the city and TABC.
Pre-qualification gets your name in the mix, it also gets certification from the city that where you're wanting to sell is indeed wet and within zoning. Then comes the inspections -- with the fire marshal, health department, building, and code enforcement.
It all should take up to 5 weeks.
Sgt. Michael Lockhart, TABC: "If they make mistakes, and we give it back to them, if they get that done and get it fixed right away, and get it back in the mix, we'll keep moving. Our interest is to get people who are qualified in business. That's our interest. And of course everybody already knows the flip side of that, when people are not qualified or if they have problems, we'll put 'em out of business."
Lubbock City Officials tell us once the pending legal issues are taken care of, you should be able to start applying for a permit August 10th.
