Yes. Texas requires stores selling alcohol to go to inspect and scan each buyer’s ID since September 1, 2025. Bars and restaurants can scan too. You may not keep the information the scan reads.
Texas makes ID scanning part of most to-go alcohol sales. Since September 1, 2025, SB 650 requires off-premise sellers to inspect and scan each buyer's ID, and if the scan shows a valid ID and a buyer 21 or older, TABC may not discipline you for a sale to a minor. Skipping the scan is a Class A misdemeanor.
Texas ID laws at a glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Can you scan IDs in Texas? | Yes. Stores selling alcohol to go must scan every buyer’s ID |
| Does a scan protect you? | Yes. No TABC discipline if the scanner showed a valid ID, age 21+ |
| What can you keep from a scan? | Nothing. Texas law says information read from the ID may not be kept |
| Legal drinking age | 21 for alcohol, tobacco, e-cigarettes and consumable hemp |
| Who must you card? | Every to-go alcohol buyer. Tobacco buyers under 30 |
| Fine for selling to a minor | Up to $4,000 and a year in jail, plus a business suspension |
Can you scan IDs in Texas?
Yes. For to-go alcohol, Texas requires it. Package stores, wine and beer retailers and retail dealers must scan the buyer’s ID, or enter it into an electronic reader, for every off-premise sale. Bars and restaurants can scan too, and TABC recommends checking IDs everywhere. The minimum age is 21 everywhere, and bars, breweries and tobacco shops should card anyone who may be under 21, or under 30 for tobacco, while hemp sellers check every buyer.
How the Texas scan rule works
SB 650, the Deshawn Jagwan Act, works like this:
- Inspect the ID and scan it for each to-go sale
- A scan showing a valid ID and a buyer 21+ protects you from TABC discipline
- Skipping the scan is a Class A misdemeanor, unless an outage blocked it or the buyer was 40+
- TABC can discipline for missed scans on sales from September 1, 2027
You may not keep the information the scan reads. For the exact wording, see the SB 650 enrolled bill text.
Which IDs are accepted in Texas?
You can accept a driver’s license or ID card from any state, a U.S. passport, a military ID or another government-issued photo ID, but not an expired, altered or fake ID, a school or work ID, or one whose photo doesn’t match.
For the required scan, the law names a driver’s license, commercial driver’s license or ID certificate.
Fines for selling to minors in Texas
| Violation | Penalty |
|---|---|
| Alcohol sale to a minor (clerk) | Class A misdemeanor, up to $4,000 and 1 year |
| Alcohol sale to a minor (business) | 8 to 12 day suspension first, cancellation after a third |
| Skipping the required scan | Class A misdemeanor |
| Tobacco sale to anyone under 21 | Up to $1,000 per violation, or permit suspension |
| Hemp sale to anyone under 21 | TABC license or permit canceled |
TABC held a stakeholder meeting on October 8, 2026 on draft license scanning rules. For the full penalty rules, see the TABC public safety penalty chart and the Texas Comptroller’s underage smoking provisions.
What Texas IDs look like
- A new polycarbonate design since August 18, 2025. Older cards stay valid until they expire
- REAL ID cards show a black, laser-engraved star in the upper right
- Under-21 cards show the date the holder turns 21
See current card designs in the Texas DPS guide to the redesigned DL and ID cards.
This page is general information, not legal advice.
Why Texas Now Requires ID Scans for To-Go Sales
Since September 1, 2025, SB 650 requires Texas stores selling alcohol for off-premise consumption to inspect and electronically scan each buyer’s ID. If the scanner shows a valid ID and a buyer 21 or older, TABC may not discipline the business for a sale to a minor. TABC can discipline for missed scans on sales made on or after September 1, 2027.
How Patronscan Helps Texas Businesses Stay Compliant
Patronscan is purpose-built for the compliance environment Texas businesses work in. Texas’s new scanning law for to-go sales requires stores selling alcohol for off-premise use to scan the buyer’s ID for each sale, and the state says information from that scan may not be kept. With 20 years of experience working alongside operators across North America, Europe, and Australia, Patronscan has the track record to help Texas bars, liquor stores and tobacco shops check every ID with confidence.
Book a DemoReady for Required ID Scanning
Texas’s new scanning law for to-go sales requires package stores, wine and beer retailers and other off-premise sellers to scan the buyer’s ID for every sale. Patronscan is built for busy registers and has no per-scan fees, so scanning every buyer doesn’t slow the line or raise your bill.
Always Up to Date With New ID Designs
Patronscan keeps its scanners updated for new ID templates across U.S. states, so staff can scan new license designs as easily as older cards that are still valid. Texas has issued a new license design since August 2025, and older cards stay valid until they expire.
Scan Data Settings You Control
Patronscan lets you set how long scan data is kept and what is stored, so you can match Texas’s rules on scanned ID data. Texas law says information read from a scanned ID may not be kept, so review your settings with Patronscan and your counsel before you scan.
The Flag Network
Patronscan originated the flag network and has spent years expanding it across North America, Europe, the United Kingdom, and Australia. When a flagged individual walks into any Patronscan-connected venue, staff are immediately alerted, giving businesses a layer of protection that goes far beyond age verification alone. In Texas, review how flags are shared with your legal team, because state law limits sharing scan data.
An ID Scanner Built for Texas To-Go Register Scans
Since September 1, 2025, SB 650 requires Texas stores selling alcohol to go to inspect and scan each buyer’s ID, and TABC can discipline for missed scans on sales made on or after September 1, 2027. Patronscan is an ID scanner for liquor stores, grocery stores and convenience stores, and an ID scanner for bars and tobacco shops that want the same check at the door. Request a demo to see how Patronscan fits your operation, or get a quote today.
Texas ID scanning FAQ
Do I need an ID scanner in Texas?
If you sell alcohol to go, yes. SB 650 requires a scan for each sale, and a scan showing a valid ID protects you from TABC discipline. Patronscan adds forensic fake ID detection beyond the barcode with no per-scan fees, and can be set to keep only what Texas law allows.
What is the best ID scanner for Texas bars?
Look for one that clearly shows validity and age, reads the 2025 polycarbonate design and catches fakes beyond the barcode. Patronscan does this with no per-scan fees, alerts staff to flagged patrons and has retention settings you control.
What happens if I sell alcohol to a minor in Texas?
The seller commits a Class A misdemeanor, with a fine up to $4,000, up to a year in jail, or both. The business faces an 8 to 12 day suspension for a first violation, rising to cancellation after a third.
What IDs can I accept in Texas?
An apparently valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID whose photo and description match the buyer. That includes any state’s driver’s license or ID card, a U.S. passport and a military ID. Expired IDs give you no defense.
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