Stronger City Regulations to Lessen Impact of Beer, Wine Sales City regulations put into place prior to the alcohol election will limit the community impact of beer and wine sales. New ordinances approved to offset the impact of alcohol sales include: Convenience Store Crime Prevention – Owners of convenience stores are required to comply with the new crime prevention ordinance. Beer Barns – Drive-through alcohol sales are not allowed. Distance Requirements – Distance requirements between stores selling beer and wine, and public and private schools have been changed from “door-to-door” to “property-line-to-property-line.” Private schools have been incorporated into the list of protected areas with the minimum 300-foot distance requirements. Appearance Standards – Higher appearance standards are required for new convenience stores and upon remodeling or expansion of existing stores. Alcohol Sale Details Packaged beer and wine sales only will be allowed for off-site consumption. Alcohol can be sold at locations that meet the separation requirements as outlined in the city ordinance and are zoned retail, such as convenience and grocery stores. Permissible hours of sale for beer and wine retailers are: Monday–Friday: 7 a.m. to midnight Saturday: 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. (Sunday) Sunday: noon to midnight Permitting Process The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) issues permits to sell beer and wine. Before issuing a permit, the city must first verify that the property is properly zoned and inspect the property to ensure that the distance requirements between the beer and wine establishment and schools, churches and hospitals are met. Enforcement The Irving Police Department is collaborating with TABC to instruct officers on alcohol code violations and primary enforcement of violations. The Police Department uses grant funding for enhanced DWI enforcement. Alcohol sale locations will be monitored for compliance and the Police Department will conduct periodic covert investigations to ensure compliance with state and local laws, especially to prevent sales to minors. Posted Nov. 26