You must be 21 to drink alcohol in the state of Texas; however, if you are employed in a hospitality or entertainment business, such as a bar, restaurant, hotel or similar enterprise, you can serve alcohol if you're at least 18 and you don't consume alcohol during a work shift.
When driving, any opened alcohol container must be moved to the vehicle's trunk or a location where the driver doesn't have direct access to the container. In other words, you can't drink behind the wheel, nor can you drink elsewhere in the car when it is in motion.
In Texas, a driver is considered to be at the legal alcohol limit if he or she blows a blood-alcohol content level of .08 percent or higher. In this event, the court will need no additional evidence to convict a driver of a DWI violation. If he or she blows a BAC of .15 percent or more, the driver will face even harsher penalties.
Texas operates under the rules of implied consent, which means that when you sign and take possession of your driver's license, you are complying with these rules. If you refuse to take chemical testing for intoxication, you can expect an automatic suspension of your license for up to one year. Additionally, the DMV can revoke your license for 90 days on the first DWI and 180 days for an additional conviction. If you're convicted of a third offense, you can lose your license permanently.