Even before Prohibition, there “dry counties” across some parts of the United States of America, meaning that the sale of alcohol was illegal. In 1919, however, the 18th amendment made these types of restrictions legal all across the entire country.  

While some rejoiced, others were obviously upset, even going so far as to get legal whisky prescribed to them by doctors just so they could continue to drink despite the ban. 

After the ban was lifted in 1933, some areas of the country still continued to implement bans on alcohol. This includes various counties throughout the state of Texas itself. While most counties in the state allow alcohol sales with some regulation, there are a select few that remain dry. Selling alcohol to any extent in these areas is illegal and punishable by law. 

The dry counties located in Texas are listed as being the following: 

*Borden 

*Hemphill 

*Kent 

*Martin 

*Roberts 

*Throckmorton 

All other counties in Texas are classified as being a combination of wet and dry ones. 

Although living in a dry county comes with inconveniences for those who do drink alcohol, the economy in this counties has developed around them. If you live in a dry county, serving alcohol or making money from alcohol in any way is against the law. So people just serve, buy, sell, and distribute alcohol just outside of the county lines. While in dry counties, individuals possessing alcohol (without intent to distribute or sell) are technically breaking the law, in general the police have more important things to do.

Thank you for visiting the Gabriella Young blog, an Austin criminal defense lawyer. We write to inform locals about law changes, events and news.