How is premises defined by TABC regulations?

• A. The building only.
• B. The building and surrounding areas used for storage.
• C. The building and surrounding areas not used for sale of alcohol.
• D. The building and surrounding areas controlled by the licensee or permittee where alcohol is sold or served.

Answer: (D)

Premises refers to the space that the license or permit covers for alcohol sales and service. It includes not just the physical building but the surrounding areas that the licensee controls and uses for selling or serving alcohol. This scope matters because enforcement and compliance apply to all parts of the operation where alcohol is sold or served, not just the interior of the building.

That’s why the definition includes the building and the surrounding areas under the licensee’s control where alcohol is sold or served. It would be incomplete to claim only the building, or to limit it to areas used for storage, or to exclude any area where alcohol is actually sold or served.