Tex. Alcoholic Beverage Code § 106.16
This is the official text of Tex. Alcoholic Beverage Code § 106.16, part of Texas’s Alcoholic Beverage Code — regulates the sale and distribution of alcohol.
Not legal advice. This page reproduces the official text of a government statute for reference only. Laws change, and how a statute applies depends on your specific facts. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.
§ 106.16. EXCEPTION FOR CERTAIN COURSE WORK.
Official statutory text
(a) In this section:
(1) "Career school or college" has the meaning assigned by Section 132.001, Education Code.
(2) "Taste" means to draw a beverage into the mouth without swallowing or otherwise consuming the beverage.
(b) Notwithstanding any other law, a minor may taste an alcoholic beverage if:
(1) the minor:
(A) is at least 18 years old; and
(B) is enrolled:
(i) as a student at a public or private institution of higher education or a career school or college that offers a program in culinary arts, viticulture, enology or wine technology, brewing or malt beverage technology, or distilled spirits production or technology; and
(ii) in a course that is part of a program described by Subparagraph (i);
(2) the beverage is tasted for educational purposes as part of the curriculum for the course described by Subdivision (1)(B)(ii);
(3) the beverage is not purchased by the minor; and
(4) the service and tasting of the beverage is supervised by a faculty or staff member who is at least 21 years of age.
(c) A public or private institution of higher education or a career school or college is not required to hold a license or permit to engage in the activities authorized under this section.
(1) "Career school or college" has the meaning assigned by Section 132.001, Education Code.
(2) "Taste" means to draw a beverage into the mouth without swallowing or otherwise consuming the beverage.
(b) Notwithstanding any other law, a minor may taste an alcoholic beverage if:
(1) the minor:
(A) is at least 18 years old; and
(B) is enrolled:
(i) as a student at a public or private institution of higher education or a career school or college that offers a program in culinary arts, viticulture, enology or wine technology, brewing or malt beverage technology, or distilled spirits production or technology; and
(ii) in a course that is part of a program described by Subparagraph (i);
(2) the beverage is tasted for educational purposes as part of the curriculum for the course described by Subdivision (1)(B)(ii);
(3) the beverage is not purchased by the minor; and
(4) the service and tasting of the beverage is supervised by a faculty or staff member who is at least 21 years of age.
(c) A public or private institution of higher education or a career school or college is not required to hold a license or permit to engage in the activities authorized under this section.
Status: in_force · Read it on the official government site
Need a lawyer in Texas?
Find a Texas lawyer
About this page: Statute text is reproduced from official government publishers via the
Open US Law dataset
(Vaquill AI, snapshot v2026.08, CC BY 4.0). Primary legislative text like this is public domain under the government-edicts doctrine
(Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 2020). We link every section back to its official source so you can verify it independently.