Texas Border Business
AUSTIN, TEXAS — The following statements on Gov. Abbott’s actions to allow tasting rooms at wineries and distilleries to safely reopen should be attributed to the Texas Winery PAC and Texas Craft Spirits PACs, as noted below:
Patrick Whitehead, President of the Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association and Texas Winery PAC board member said:
“We’re grateful for Gov. Abbott addressing the economic crisis facing our small businesses. As Texas continues to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, tasting rooms at hundreds of wineries, breweries and distilleries were closed, limiting consumer access, negatively affecting sales, impacting jobs, and reducing much-needed tax revenue for local and state governments. We’ve made clear that our businesses can safely reopen, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to throw open our doors once again to Texans ready to taste and buy Texas wines.
“With a direct and indirect economic impact of close to $15 billion to the state of Texas every year, including over $1 billion paid in state and local taxes, the Texas wine industry is pleased to have the opportunity to be a part of the Texas economic recovery from COVID-19.”
Dee Kelleher, co-owner of Dripping Springs Distilling and Chair of the Texas Craft Spirits PAC, said:
“Texas businesses are struggling during COVID-19, and the craft spirits industry is no exception. While we greatly appreciated the Governor’s efforts to keep people safe during this COVID crisis, the prolonged closure took its toll on many of our state’s smaller distilleries. In the event there is another shutdown, we hope Governor Abbott understands that distilleries, wineries, and breweries are not bars and should not be treated as such.”
“As we re-open and look ahead to the 2020 Texas Legislative Session, we must address long-term issues that hold back Texas craft distillers’ ability to create jobs, drive new investments and revenue for our state, and bring Texas-born and distilled craft spirits to more Texans.”
