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Beer and the boomerang thrower at the USBA Nationals

Like most states and cities, there is a mix of laws governing the sale of alcohol where the USBA Nationals will occur.  Mesquite, the city where the hotel and tournament are located, is dry.  There is no alcohol on the college campus.  But the hotel has a liquor license and can serve alcohol on the premises.  And most full service restaurants in the city serve alcohol, though you may be asked for a Unicard (a private club membership), which is a formality, as you can also use your driver’s license number because the restaurants are viewed as private clubs and you have to be a member to drink.  Some restaurants ask you to sign to verify age, some charge a dollar to get a Unicard but all should be free with your license number.  Confused?  There’s more...

Dallas is also an alcohol conundrum.  Roughly half the city is dry and half wet.  As you drive from either airport (Love Field or DFW), you’ll pass through the wet area which is mostly the west side, north side and center, and just about three miles after downtown, going east on I-30, you’ll cross White Rock Creek where the city becomes dry (there are no signs for the creek, however).  If you want to get some beer or other alcohol to have in your room, I recommend stopping on the way to the hotel because, though there’s beer near the hotel, it’s still about 4-5 miles away.  There’s an easy on, easy off store on the way from either airport to the hotel.  About 3 miles east of downtown, take the Winslow exit, just after the East Grand Ave. exit.  Go through the light at the end of the ramp and just 50 yards more there’ll be a liquor store on the right.  I visit this one myself and it’s well stocked.  When you’re done, it’s easy on back to I-30 heading east.  There’s also this to consider: beer and wine are sold until midnight Monday through Saturday and until 9pm on Sunday.  But liquor is available only until 9pm during the week, 6pm on Saturday and not at all on Sunday.  Bars or restaurants in Texas can’t sell alcohol to go and you can’t take it with you if you’re leaving the restaurant or bar.  And package stores (as they’re called here) can’t sell open drinks (like in a bar).  And like a lot of other states, there’s a No Open Container law, i.e., no one in a car can have an open alcoholic drink.  But hey, once you figure all this out, it’s all good!