Making Liquor Licenses Easier ot Acquire

EL PASO - It can be tedious to open any business, but under current laws, liquor store owners go through an even more complicated process than most. The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission is trying to make it easier, but liquor store owners aren't sure it will help.

Liquor store owners have to get a liquor permit from the state, as well as a license from the county to sell beer and wine.

The TABC says they want to streamline the process by issuing both the permit and the license through one office.

The Barrel House liquor stores have been around El Paso for decades.  Richard Telles-Goins owns all eight of them. He says it takes a lot of work maintaining licenses for all of his stores. 

The TABC says they want to simplify the process of applying for beer licenses and liquor permits so they'd both come from the same place, either the county of the TABC, not both.

"It's complicated for applicants and a little bit complicated for agencies to have two different processes for applications for somethings that are very similar," said TABC spokesperson Carolyn Beck.

But the Barrel House owner does not agree.

"It may save the state on their accounting and great because, you know, that's saving me money but in terms of helping me individually doesn't help my store at all, " said Telles-Goins.