On August 26, 1899, Galveston officials decided that local saloons would continue to operate on Sundays, with the only restriction being a closure between the hours of 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM. This arrangement was the result of a compromise between those advocating for stricter observance of Sunday as a day without alcohol sales and those who valued the city’s long-standing tradition of allowing Sunday drinking. Saloon owners, determined not to be singled out for prohibition when other forms of entertainment remained open, pushed strongly against full-day closures, and their resistance paid off.
This decision in Galveston reflected broader tensions in Texas at the time over “blue laws” — state or local restrictions historically rooted in religious observance that limited alcohol sales, business operations, and certain leisure activities on Sundays. While many rural counties in Texas leaned toward complete Sunday bans, urban centers like Galveston often adopted more lenient rules, balancing moral pressure from temperance advocates with economic and cultural realities. The Sunday saloon debate became a microcosm of the push-and-pull between reform movements and business interests in late 19th-century Texas.
By allowing limited hours rather than a total ban, Galveston preserved an element of its social and economic life while avoiding direct confrontation with state-level prohibitionists. This arrangement anticipated the more formalized regulations that would later come with Texas alcohol laws, such as the codified closure of liquor stores on Sundays and partial Sunday restrictions for beer and wine sales. It also showcased the city’s pragmatic approach: adjust rather than abolish, and keep both sides — reformers and regular patrons — partially satisfied.
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