Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission
Encyclopedia
The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC, formerly the Texas Liquor Control Board) was created in 1935. The TABC has the task of inspecting, supervising and regulating every phase of business related to alcoholic beverage
s. The agency is headquartered in the 5806 Mesa Drive building in Austin
.
In addition to their regulatory roles, TABC agents are fully empowered state police officers with state-wide criminal jurisdiction and may make arrests for any offense. See Cortez v. State, 738 S.W.2d 760 (Tex. App.-Austin, 1987).
In 2006, the Commission led Operation Last Call
, in which persons in bars and other alcohol serving establishments were arrested for being intoxicated. Said Captain David Alexander, head of the Operation Last Call Task Force, "Going to a bar is not an opportunity to go get drunk...It's to have a good time, but not to get drunk."
quickly suspended the program last March pending more review.
On June 28, 2009, TABC officers conducted a raid on the Rainbow Lounge, a gay bar in Fort Worth. Several customers were arrested for intoxication inside of the bar. One patron, Chad Gibson, was hospitalized "after being thrown to the floor." Gibson spent several days in the hospital, receiving treatment for a blood clot in his brain. Accusations of unnecessary brutality led to a protest outside of the Tarrant County Courthouse. Fort Worth City Councilman Joel Burns appeared on CBS News stating, "Rest assured the people of Fort Worth, or the government of Fort Worth, will not tolerate discrimination against any of its citizens." An officer responded by stating that an "extremely intoxicated patron made sexually explicit movements," which warranted the arrests. Fort Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief has said, "It might have been helpful if the owner of the lounge had informed [officers] this day was more than just another day of the week. But at the same time, they have a job to do no matter what day of the week it is, and that job is to protect the public from people who have consumed too much alcohol."
The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) has completed the use of force report related to the incident at the Fort Worth Rainbow Lounge occurring on June 28, 2009. The 74-page report takes into account statements by eyewitnesses, expert witnesses, TABC employees, and Fort Worth police officers.
The TABC internal affairs investigation report included two allegations which were both unfounded:
1. Agents Chris Aller and Jason Chapman were accused of participating in a bar check operation with Fort Worth police officers on June 28, 2009, which targeted the Rainbow Lounge specifically because of the bar's gay and lesbian customer base. The allegation that the Rainbow Lounge was targeted for being a gay bar was unfounded.
2. Agents Aller and Chapman were accused of using force beyond what was necessary and reasonable during their contact with Jose Macias, George Armstrong and Chad Gibson when they were placed under arrest at the Rainbow Lounge. The allegation of excessive force was unfounded.
Alcoholic beverage
An alcoholic beverage is a drink containing ethanol, commonly known as alcohol. Alcoholic beverages are divided into three general classes: beers, wines, and spirits. They are legally consumed in most countries, and over 100 countries have laws regulating their production, sale, and consumption...
s. The agency is headquartered in the 5806 Mesa Drive building in Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
.
In addition to their regulatory roles, TABC agents are fully empowered state police officers with state-wide criminal jurisdiction and may make arrests for any offense. See Cortez v. State, 738 S.W.2d 760 (Tex. App.-Austin, 1987).
In 2006, the Commission led Operation Last Call
Operation Last Call
Operation Last Call is the name of a law enforcement operation in the state of Texas in which undercover agents of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission make arrests for public intoxication in places that serve alcoholic beverages...
, in which persons in bars and other alcohol serving establishments were arrested for being intoxicated. Said Captain David Alexander, head of the Operation Last Call Task Force, "Going to a bar is not an opportunity to go get drunk...It's to have a good time, but not to get drunk."
History
TABC agents made national news for arresting customers in local hotel bars in the Dallas area. After national criticism the Texas LegislatureTexas Legislature
The Legislature of the state of Texas is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Texas. The legislature is a bicameral body composed of a 31-member Senate and a 150-member House of Representatives. The Legislature meets at the Capitol in Austin...
quickly suspended the program last March pending more review.
On June 28, 2009, TABC officers conducted a raid on the Rainbow Lounge, a gay bar in Fort Worth. Several customers were arrested for intoxication inside of the bar. One patron, Chad Gibson, was hospitalized "after being thrown to the floor." Gibson spent several days in the hospital, receiving treatment for a blood clot in his brain. Accusations of unnecessary brutality led to a protest outside of the Tarrant County Courthouse. Fort Worth City Councilman Joel Burns appeared on CBS News stating, "Rest assured the people of Fort Worth, or the government of Fort Worth, will not tolerate discrimination against any of its citizens." An officer responded by stating that an "extremely intoxicated patron made sexually explicit movements," which warranted the arrests. Fort Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief has said, "It might have been helpful if the owner of the lounge had informed [officers] this day was more than just another day of the week. But at the same time, they have a job to do no matter what day of the week it is, and that job is to protect the public from people who have consumed too much alcohol."
The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) has completed the use of force report related to the incident at the Fort Worth Rainbow Lounge occurring on June 28, 2009. The 74-page report takes into account statements by eyewitnesses, expert witnesses, TABC employees, and Fort Worth police officers.
The TABC internal affairs investigation report included two allegations which were both unfounded:
1. Agents Chris Aller and Jason Chapman were accused of participating in a bar check operation with Fort Worth police officers on June 28, 2009, which targeted the Rainbow Lounge specifically because of the bar's gay and lesbian customer base. The allegation that the Rainbow Lounge was targeted for being a gay bar was unfounded.
2. Agents Aller and Chapman were accused of using force beyond what was necessary and reasonable during their contact with Jose Macias, George Armstrong and Chad Gibson when they were placed under arrest at the Rainbow Lounge. The allegation of excessive force was unfounded.
Fallen officers
Since the establishment of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, 2 officers have died in the line of duty.| Officer | Date of death | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Agent Delbert H. Pearson | |
Gunfire |
| Agent Joseph Thomas Crews | |
Vehicular assault |
External links
- TABC website
- Downloadable audio interview with spokesperson Carolyn Beck on Free Talk LiveFree Talk LiveFree Talk Live is an American call-in radio talk show heard seven nights a week. The program is hosted by Ian Freeman and Mark Edge on Tuesday through Saturday, Mark Edge and Stephanie Murphy on Sunday, and Ian Freeman and Dale Everett on Monday. It is a chiefly libertarian political talk show and...