Up until May 9, 2009, Lubbock County allowed "by the drink" sales of alcohol, but not package sales, except at private institutions such as country clubs. Inside the Lubbock city limits, the situation was reversed with restaurants and bars able to serve alcohol but liquor stores are forbidden.
On August 12, 2008 the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce announced that they would lead the effort to get enough signatures to have a vote on allowing county-wide packaged alcohol sales.[15] The petition effort was successful and the question was put to the voters.
On May 9, 2009, Proposition 1, which expanded the sale of packaged alcohol in Lubbock County, passed by nearly a margin of 2 to 1 with 64.5 percent in favor. Proposition 2, which legalized the sale of mixed-drink in restaurants county-wide, passed with 69.5 percent in favor.[16] On September 23, 2009, The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission issued permits to more than 80 stores in Lubbock.[17]
