A new survey finds that one in three Lone Star State craft breweries believe they’ll be forced to close within the next three months without a change to the state’s COVID-19 shutdown order.
Further, two in three believe they won’t make it to the end of the year under current state restrictions, according to the survey by the Texas Craft Brewers Guild.
As part of Gov. Greg Abbott’s plan to curb the spread of the coronavirus, wineries, brewery tasting rooms and beer gardens were forced to close under the same order he used to shut down bars.
The TCBG argues these small businesses should be allowed to reopen and operate with the same health and safety measures as businesses such as restaurants, theme parks and movie theaters.
Texas has already seen at least six craft breweries permanently shut down as a result of the pandemic and the ensuing economic crisis, including Boerne’s Silber Brewing Co. and North by Northwest NXNW brewpub in North Austin.
TCBG is urging beer lovers to support local businesses when shopping for cold brews, either purchasing Texas them at retailers or directly from the breweries themselves.
Those who want to take it step further can sign a letter to the governor, requesting an amendment to Executive Order GA-28 that will allow all Texas breweries and brewpubs to reopen for on-site service under the same COVID-19 policies as restaurants.
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This article appears in Jul 15-28, 2020.
