Coverage line

A bartender’s hand steadies a tipping stemmed glass before its spill reaches the edge of a bar.Illustration for The General Average

Liquor Liability in Texas

Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code § 2.02 requires proof that it was apparent the recipient was obviously intoxicated to the extent of presenting a clear danger to themselves and others, and that the intoxication proximately caused the damages. The statute separately reaches an adult who knowingly provides alcohol to a minor under 18, so make sure your quote and service procedures account for both tests.

What Is Liquor Liability Insurance?

Liquor liability can cover claims tied to your business selling, serving or furnishing alcohol. If you run a bar, restaurant or event where you provide drinks, check how the quote treats injuries, property damage and occasional service. Read the national Liquor liability guide.

What Should You Watch for With Liquor Liability Insurance in Texas?

Texas Uses a Clear-Danger Threshold
The statutory provider claim requires obvious intoxication so severe that the recipient presented a clear danger to self or others, plus proximate causation. Ask the broker how the proposed wording addresses this Texas standard and what exclusions apply to alcohol-service conduct. ¹
The Minor-Recipient Rule Applies Below Age 18
An adult at least 21 may be liable for damages proximately caused by an under-18 minor’s intoxication if the adult knowingly served the minor or allowed alcohol to be served on premises the adult owned or leased. Include private events and alcohol provided at your property in the coverage discussion. ²
Texas Separates Statutory and Common-Law Claims
Section 2.02 preserves common-law actions against the person whose drinking allegedly caused injury, while § 2.03 addresses the exclusivity of the statutory remedy against alcohol providers. Ask how the policy responds to claims against your business, employees, and other insured entities under the applicable Texas theories. ^1,³

Which Liquor Liability Insurance Providers Have Texas License Records?

These providers publish a national listing for Liquor liability; the state records document licenses for the entities and roles shown below. Some records rely on company-reported information rather than independent regulator verification. A national listing does not confirm the product is available in Texas. Check the regulator’s license lookup and confirm state availability for your business when requesting a quote.

Corgi
Insurance producer · checked 2026-09-28
Corgi Insurance Services, Inc.
Corgi’s company producer-license table lists 50 jurisdictions: 49 states and the District of Columbia, including DC license 3003091619. New Mexico does not appear in the table and is not included here; the omission does not establish that Corgi is unlicensed there. The company-reported table has no stated as-of date and does not establish product availability. ¹²
Corgi markets liquor liability for eligible veterans’ and fraternal lodges with licensed on-premises bars.

Who Regulates Insurance in Texas?

Texas Department of Insurance

TDI licenses agents and insurers, reviews company rate filings, and investigates complaints against insurance companies and people it regulates. Its complaint page states limits on what it can resolve, including disputes outside its regulatory authority. ^4,^5,⁶

Website: Regulator website
License lookup: Search licensed producers
Complaints: File a complaint

Surplus-Lines Tax and Stamping Office in Texas

Reported tax rate. 4.85% of gross premium plus 0.04% SLTX stamping fee ^7,^8,⁹

When Texas is the insured’s home state, the state tax is 4.85% of gross premium; absent a compact allocation agreement, a multistate policy can be taxed on its entire premium. Policies effective on or after Jan. 1, 2024 also carry a 0.04% stamping fee; SLTX invoices the broker and says the insured pays it, and the surplus-lines insurer is not covered by the Texas guaranty association.

Surplus Lines Stamping Office of Texas

What Should You Ask Before Buying Liquor Liability Insurance in Texas?

Does the policy address Texas claims under both the clear-danger test and the under-18 minor provision?
How does the quote treat alcohol served at private events on property our business owns or leases?
Are employees and separate property-owning entities insured for Texas alcohol-related claims?
Do defense costs reduce the stated limit, and how are multiple claimants from one event handled?

Liquor Liability Insurance in Texas: Frequently Asked Questions

What must a Texas plaintiff prove in a dram-shop claim?

The plaintiff must show that it was apparent the person served was obviously intoxicated to the point of presenting a clear danger to themselves and others, and that the intoxication proximately caused the damages. ¹

Can a Texas business face liability for serving alcohol to a minor?

Yes. Texas law can hold an adult 21 or older liable for damages proximately caused by an under-18 minor’s intoxication if the adult knowingly provided the alcohol or allowed it to be provided on premises the adult owned or leased. ²

Does Texas law set a liquor-liability insurance minimum for every bar?

The Texas statutes cited here set civil-liability standards, not a statewide liquor-liability insurance limit for every bar. Check your specific TABC permit conditions, local requirements, and contracts for separate coverage obligations. ^1,³

Sources

17 documents, numbered as cited. Open the sources

Sources for Liquor Liability Insurance in Texas

1
Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code, Chapter 2: Civil Liabilities for Serving Beverages. Texas Legislature; § 2.02(b), statutory provider claim elements. Accessed 2026-09-29.
2
Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code § 2.02(c), Liability for Serving a Minor. Texas Legislature; § 2.02(c)(1)–(2), adult provision to a minor under 18. Accessed 2026-09-29.
3
Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code § 2.03, Exclusivity of Statutory Remedy. Texas Legislature; § 2.03, claims against providers. Accessed 2026-09-29.
4
texas insurance regulator. State insurance regulator; TDI regulator page outlines licensing, financial oversight, compliance/enforcement, and rate review. Accessed 2026-09-28.
5
How to Find a Licensed Insurance Agent or Adjuster. State insurance regulator; TDI says search by agent name or license number and links to the state license search. Accessed 2026-09-28.
6
Get Help with an Insurance Complaint. State insurance regulator; Direct complaint page explains covered entities, exclusions and online filing; Help Line 800-252-3439. Accessed 2026-09-28.
7
Texas Insurance Code §§225.002–225.004. Texas Legislature; §225.002 limits chapter to Texas-home-state insured; §225.004(a) 4.85%; (a-1) NRRA home-state limitation; (c) entire premium where Texas is home state and no compact agreement. Accessed 2026-09-28.
8
Stamping Fees & Taxes. Surplus Lines Stamping Office of Texas; Current policy-date table lists 0.04% for inception 1/1/2024 and after; stamping fee invoices go to brokers; site says fee is paid by insured. Accessed 2026-09-28.
9
Texas Surplus Lines Companies. Texas Department of Insurance; TDI says surplus-lines insurers are not licensed in Texas and its guaranty association member; eligibility/disclaimer and broker financial-responsibility details. Accessed 2026-09-28.
10
Licenses. At-Bay; Current producer introduction and state table; At-Bay Insurance Services LLC; P&C and surplus-lines identifiers. Accessed 2026-09-21.
11
Licenses and Carriers. Coalition; Licenses and Carriers, re-read 22 September 2026: Insurance Licenses table for Coalition Insurance Solutions, Inc., national producer number 18419475, with producer and surplus-lines numbers for all 50 states and DC including California 0L76155, Georgia 196479, Texas 2199630 and 2205589, Pennsylvania 815731 and 817452, Colorado 539028 and Wisconsin 3000108852. Insurance Carriers table naming, with NAIC numbers, Allianz Underwriters Insurance Company 36420, Arch Specialty Insurance Company 21199, Ascot Specialty Insurance Company 45055, Ascot Insurance Company 23752, Aspen Specialty Insurance Company 10717, Chaucer Insurance Company DAC, Coalition Insurance Company 29530, Fireman's Fund Indemnity Corporation 11380, Fortegra Specialty Insurance Company 16823, Lloyd's of London, MSIG Specialty Insurance USA Inc. 34886, MS Transverse Specialty Insurance Company 41807, Steadfast Insurance Company 26387, Vantage Risk Specialty Insurance Company 16275 and Zurich American Insurance Company 16535. Accessed 2026-09-22.
12
Insurance Producer Licenses. Corgi Insurance; Current complete Insurance Producer Licenses table for Corgi Insurance Services, Inc.; 50 rows covering 49 states and DC (DC 3003091619); no New Mexico row; no NPN or as-of date shown. Accessed 2026-09-28.
13
About Hiscox US Insurance. Hiscox; Hiscox Insurance Company Inc. NAIC 10200 as Chicago, IL domiciled insurer admitted or licensed in all 50 states and D.C.; Hiscox Inc. as general agent and Lloyd’s coverholder for Syndicates 33 and 3624; surplus-lines placements through licensed surplus-lines brokers; A.M. Best rating statement. Accessed 2026-09-16.
14
Licenses. ERGO NEXT Insurance; Current entity-by-state license table reopened 28 September 2026: 50 rows under Next First Insurance Agency, Inc., including Washington, DC; New York rows instead list Next Insurance Services PC-1423070 and AP Intego BR-1198885. Accessed 2026-09-28.
15
About Risklytics. Risklytics; What we do; Who we insure; Licensing; Agency licenses table dated 2026-09-10. Accessed 2026-09-16.
16
Insurance Licenses by State. TechInsurance; Current state table; identifies TechInsurance as a division of Specialty Program Group LLC d/b/a SPG Insurance Solutions; lists DC 3000041536 and labels Rhode Island “Individual licenses,” without an agency license number. Accessed 2026-09-28.
17
Licenses. Vouch; Effective 16 January 2025: Vouch Specialty Insurance Services, LLC, NPN 19926463; P&C table (50 states and DC); surplus-lines table includes Idaho 870820; footnote says Georgia and Idaho do not issue agency-level surplus-lines licenses; Idaho retained as producer-only due to conflict. Accessed 2026-09-15.

Liquor Liability in Texas

What Is Liquor Liability Insurance?

What Should You Watch for With Liquor Liability Insurance in Texas?

Texas Uses a Clear-Danger Threshold

The Minor-Recipient Rule Applies Below Age 18

Texas Separates Statutory and Common-Law Claims