Turner: Houston BYOB ordinance 'is an effort to try to create a safer environment'

The Houston City Council approved an ordinance on Wednesday requiring bring-your-own-bottle (BYOB) establishments to obtain operating permits, per reports from Houston-based media outlets. 

Since most of these businesses lack Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) permits, the ordinance is touted as a tool to combat crime.

"These are establishments that have either been denied a TABC permit or have never even sought to get one," Houston City Councilwoman Abbie Kamin said, Houston ABC affiliate KTRK reported. 

Houston Daily reported while police know about the crime statistics, it’s unknown as to the exact number of BYOB businesses within city limits. 

Under the ordinance, it’s illegal for an establishment without a TABC permit to operate after midnight minus proper authorization from Austin, punishable by a $500 fine per violation.

“There is a lot of criminal activity after hours and specifically in parking lots and unregulated venues after 2:15 a.m.,” Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said, Houston CBS affiliate KHOU reported. “This ordinance helps to set clear guidelines and standards and will be a vital tool for the Houston Police Department to help mitigate potential risks.”

According to KHOU, the ordinance additionally requires BYOB businesses to take precautionary safety measures, including, but not limited to securing an occupancy certificate, posting security guards on-site and running a video surveillance system.

Kamin said the regulations “close a regulatory loophole” that’s proven a burden on the Houston Police Department (HPD), the station reported.

Houston NPR affiliate Houston Public Media (HPM) reported that HPD fielded more than 2,000 calls arising from alleged criminal activity at BYOB businesses during the first quarter of 2023, to which the mayor said the ordinance “isn’t an attempt to close anybody.”

"This is an effort to try to create a safer environment, a safer venue, for those who are attending these businesses at that time, and are staying there past a certain time,” Turner, who's in the final months in the city’s highest office, said, HPM reported.

City Hall has little legal footing to stand on when it comes to shuttering a BYOB business even if it’s where a crime is committed.