The majority of people, including myself, who moved to Tyler, Texas, or into Smith County Texas more than a decade ago, were unaware that you could not go into a restaurant during happy hour or anytime and order a beer or a cocktail without being a 'member'.

Up until 2012, Smith County was a dry county until voters approved a measure to make the sale of beer and wine a legal transaction.

So lots has changed since I moved to East Texas in 1997. When I was new to town and much younger we would hit up Chili's, TGI Fridays, On The Border or Sharkey's, Rick's, or Clicks on the weekend to have a beer or mixed drink, but in order to drink you had to be a member of 'the club' or carry a Unicard! Man have times changed and for the better.

No more club memberships or Unicards

Being a member was just a way to get around county and state laws in order for residents to purchase an adult beverage legally.

News Radio 710 KEEL logo
Get our free mobile app

Texas has some rather unusual laws when it comes to purchasing alcohol and liquor. Some of the laws have become relaxed over the years, but there are some laws that no one can get around and they're still on the books.

While Texas alcohol laws are among some of the strictest in the country, they can also be a bit confusing. Why is it some counties can sell alcohol at restaurants and bars until 2 a.m. when other counties must stop selling at 1 a.m.?  I'll never know or understand!

If that's not mind-blowing enough, check out these 12 weird laws that are enforceable when it comes to selling alcohol in Texas.

Texas has 12 Weird Laws for Buying and Selling Liquor in the State

There are many who love to enjoy a drink that is made with a liquor of some kind. Thing is, in Texas, it can be somewhat inconvenient to do that. Inside are some weird laws for buying and selling liquor in Texas.

Gallery Credit: unsplash.com

Texas DMV Denies These Personalized License Plates

Vanity (or personalized) license plates on vehicles can be fun and whimsical. Some owners get very creative when it comes to the right combination of letters and numbers to get their message across in those precious seven characters or less. However, the State of Texas didn't approve the requests to have these personalized plates printed.

Gallery Credit: Lucky Larry, Mix 93-1

East Texans Speak Up And Say These Restaurants Are Worth The Wait

We asked on our social media 'what East Texas restaurant is worth the wait no matter how long the wait is' and it looks like we'll be trying out some new places around East Texas and if the wait is 10 - 30 minutes or even an hour, it should be worth it! Enjoy.

Gallery Credit: Lucky Larry

An Amazing Look At 10 Texas Ghost Towns That Once Stood Proud

These Texas towns once boasted a healthy population with a thriving economy, but along the way, something drastic happened within the town causing its population decline and slow death and eventually becoming a Texas ghost town.'

If you do go on an adventure and seek out these ghost towns, please do it safely. If you go on a journey into the woods please have the landowner's permission to do so or you could be prosecuted for trespassing. Above all, be careful, courteous, and inquisitive.

Gallery Credit: Beyond Civilization (Xplore RC) via YouTube