HOUSTON — Texas could see more bars and clubs without liquor licenses if they’re behaving badly and not following the rules set forth by the state in Phase 3 of reopening.
This comes as grassroots efforts ramp up to call out Houston-area businesses behaving badly in wake of COVID-19.
From bars to gyms, many are fed up with businesses not following the rules.
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Here’s how you can report Houston-area businesses that aren’t complying to COVID-19 mandates
- For businesses in Harris County, call (832) 839-6941
- For businesses in the City of Houston, call 311
- For businesses in Fort Bend County, call (281) 342-3411
- For businesses in the City of Galveston, call the non-emergency police line at (409) 765-3702
- By the governor's order, businesses that have more than 50 percent of their revenue from alcohol sales must be open only for delivery and pickup. If you notice a violator, you can report them to the TABC by emailing complaints@tabc.texas.gov, calling 1-888-THE-TABC or by using the free TABC mobile application.
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"Very few people were wearing masks"
Houstonian Chris Rogers says he did not enjoy his workout at his Harris County gym on June 25th.
“I went to the gym I noticed that very few people were wearing masks including staff,” Rogers said. “And I was hoping that somebody, some staff would say something; that never happened.”
Rogers said he spoke to management who told him they were trying to enforce the mask mandate but had a hard time policing their clients.
“We have a mandate to wear a mask. Everybody should wear a mask it should be enforced, and if the gym can’t enforce that, they should close," he said.
Rogers took video which appears to show people not wearing masks or adhering to the 6-feet social distancing guidelines.
KHOU 11 is not identifying the gym, although we did reach out for comment. The facility told us they are looking into it and that it is “committed to following all government requirements in addition to the safety protocols we’ve put into place for the safety of our members and team members.”
The Harris County mask requirement
Businesses in Harris County are supposed to require face masks and limit capacity. Houston Mayor Turner said the city plans to crack down on bars and clubs, reporting violators to the TABC.
“With the hope that they will pull their license for a 30-day period,” Turner said during a press conference Wednesday.
Turner said he plans to let the public know which businesses are not following the rules.
“We are looking at creating a board of shame and identifying those businesses that are really working against the rules. We do think it’s important for people to know who is being a good citizen and who’s not," he said.
Grassroots efforts to call out businesses are popping up, too. There’s a “Covid Call Out” Facebook group with more than 2,000 members where members can put on blast both good and bad practices at local spots.