Alcohol

Midway Mart alcoholThere are many places to purchase alcohol in Denton. This includes the many bars, which make up the night life scene in Denton.

Liquor

Denton voted to be wet in November 2014, and as of January 1, 2015 this has been in effect. TABC is reviewing applications for liquor stores to open in the city of Denton in 2015. In March 2015, The Liquor Outpost on W. University Drive became the first liquor store to open in Denton. Since then several other stores have opened. Prior to 2015, the closest stores were:

Jacob's liquor store on 380 (University), if you keep going East to Moseley Road, at 2351 US Highway 380 in Cross Roads.
Cross Roads liquor store on 380 (University) right past Jacob's liquor store. (Offers 10% discount for any student).
South on 35E to KJ's Wine and Spirits, off Swisher road,
or South on 35W off FM 407 to Paradise Liquors. (Offers 10% UNT Student Discount - show ID)

These liquor stores are open until 9PM every day except Sunday, when they are closed, in case people go to church drunk.

Wine

While you can buy wine (and beer) at any Tom, Dick, and Harry convenience or grocery store (i.e., Wal-Mart, Kroger, Target, or World Market), there are a few places that cater to the "connoisseur" wine geek. Located on and near the square, Cellar 22, Wine², and Vigne Wine Shop and Delicatessen are your best bets for wine purchases and tastings. Metzler's also has a fine wine selection.

Beer

You want an assortment of foreign, domestic, and possibly exotic beers? Check out Howdy Doody, Midway Mart (new beers and specials are posted in the facebook group "I heart Midway Mart") and Metzler's Food and Beverage.

Times to purchase

In Denton, you can buy beer at most grocery stores, gas stations, or Mark's Beer Barn.

Legal hours for purchase:

Monday-Friday: 7am-midnight
Saturday: 7am-1am
Sunday: noon to midnight

In Denton, bars and restaurants can serve alcoholic beverages until 2:00 AM, but most bars will call "last call" and stop serving around 1:45AM.

BYOB

Some places in Denton are BYOB, such as:

Events

People tend to get their drank on, a little, at Arts and Jazz Festival.

Drink and Think is a regular event held by Kevin Roden. Everyone is welcome to attend. They drink wine and discuss interesting questions about life, the universe, and everything.

There's also a rarely seen, expert-level, local tradition of NOT drinking. Few have accepted this social challenge. Legend has it that one student made it out of UNT without a drop of alcohol, but his whereabouts and identity are unknown.

Fry Street October Fest

Denton Mudbug Boil

Nightmare on Fry Street

Other laws

A person must be 21 years of age (or older) to buy alcohol in Texas.

Consumption and intoxication

In Texas, it is legal to publicly consume alcohol except:

Monday-Friday: before 7am or after 12:15am
Saturday: before 7am or after 1:15am
Sunday: before noon or after 12:15am

Alcohol must not be consumed from a glass container in Denton. But as one anonymous Denton resident says, "that part about being able to drink cans of beer in public in Denton is awesome!"

Public intoxication is illegal. Section 49.02 of the Texas Penal Code states: “A person commits an offense if the person appears in a public place while intoxicated to the degree that the person may endanger the person or another.” Public intoxication is a Class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $500.

Restaurants and bars do not constitute private places. They are public, and it is therefore illegal to be intoxicated in these places.