bars

Lawmakers in both houses overwhelmingly approved extending the COVID-era waiver that allowed bars and restaurants to sell booze to-go. The governor signed it. Now, it's law.

As COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations balloon, public health experts and local officials worry the loopholes are one reason behind the recent rise.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced bars would be allowed to reopen Oct. 14 with approval from county judges and the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, as long as COVID-19 hospitalizations are less than 15% of total capacity. Many of Bexar County's roughly 3,000 bars have been operating as restaurants per a September rule to mitigate pandemic-related financial fallout. This week the county's remaining 425 watering holes are expected to be given the green light to also reopen at 50%, pending TABC approval.

To owners of bars and nightclubs, pandemic restrictions on the industry can feel punitive. But there are important differences, virus hunters say, between a bar and a restaurant that serves alcohol.

Some states are pausing their reopening plans as bars and restaurants cause a spike in COVID-19 transmission.

The next phase of Gov. Abbott's plan to restart the economy includes reopening Texas' approximately 5,500 bars, taverns and nightclubs at 25% capacity…