Trusted Alcohol Beverage Consulting LLC

03/02/2026

My Top 3 Things TABC Agents Notice First

🚨 Inspections don’t start when the questions begin.
They start the moment the agent walks through the door.

After years on the enforcement side, here are the my first three things agents typically notice:

1️⃣ Where your permit is displayed.
Is it current, visible to the public, and properly posted near the entrance?

2️⃣ The overall atmosphere.
Are staff professional? Is the operation controlled and organized or chaotic?

3️⃣ Anyone obviously intoxicated or any minors drinking.

Overservice and minor consumption are serious violations. Agents are trained to observe behavior, body language, and the environment immediately.

Strong compliance isn’t about reacting. It’s about being prepared every shift.

If you’d like your business ready before they walk in, let’s talk.

📞 936-645-0504
✉️ [email protected]
Protecting Your License. Strengthening Your Business.

02/27/2026

If you ever find yourself in trouble arrested, accused, or just contacted by law enforcement,your first reaction is usually fear.

But panic makes people talk.
And talking without preparation can hurt you.

Before You Lawyer exists for one simple reason:

To help you get organized before you walk into an attorney’s office.

That means:
• Writing down exactly what happened while it’s still fresh
• Identifying witnesses
• Gathering screenshots or evidence
• Clarifying timelines
• Separating emotion from facts

The better prepared you are, the better your attorney can defend you.

This isn’t about beating the system.
It’s about clarity before counsel.

If you or someone you know needs help organizing their situation before hiring a lawyer, message me.

Stay calm. Stay smart.

02/27/2026

🚨 WHAT IS PACE — AND WHAT DO YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT IT? 🚨

If your bar gets placed in the PACE program by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, that doesn’t mean you’re “good.”

It means you caught a break.

PACE is education before enforcement typically for first-time, lower-level complaints. Instead of opening a full case, they’re giving you a chance to fix it.

But here’s what matters:

You’re on a 2year clock.

That’s TABC’s compliance look-back period.
Stay clean for 2 years → you reset.
Repeat the issue → it becomes a pattern.
Patterns = fines, suspensions, and real license risk.

PACE is not immunity.
It’s a warning.

Smart operators:
✔ Retrain staff
✔ Tighten ID checks
✔ Document corrective action

If you’re in PACE or want to avoid it, tighten your compliance systems now, not later.

Protecting Your License. Strengthening Your Business.
— TAB Consulting LLC

02/24/2026

I’m officially reopening TABC Consulting.

After stepping away to recalibrate and strengthen personally and professionally, I’m back and focused on helping you:

• Stay audit-ready
• Protect your liquor license
• Train staff properly
• Reduce overservice risk
• Prepare for inspections

18+ years law enforcement experience — including TABC enforcement insight — now back to work for you.

Protecting Your License. Strengthening Your Business.

Message me to schedule a compliance review.

12/21/2025

A Quick Update from TAB Consulting

I’ve been given an opportunity to strengthen my skills in a way that will directly improve the business, and it’s one I can’t pass up. This is a temporary pause, and TAB Consulting will be back stronger and better prepared to serve our clients.

Thank you for the continued support. More to come soon.

— Stephen
Trusted Alcoholic Beverage Consulting LLC

12/06/2025

TABC Compliance Reporting Begins January 1st

If you’re a TABC-licensed business, the 2026 compliance reporting window is right around the corner. That means it’s time to prepare for your required self-inspection through AIMS.

This process is designed to help you identify issues early, correct them before they become violations, and keep your license protected.

As someone who spent years enforcing these standards, trust me,a few minutes of preparation now can save you thousands later.

If you need help:
Completing your self-inspection
Understanding what TABC expects
Reviewing your policies or training
Getting your business audit-ready

TAB Consulting can walk you through every step.

Get support before the rush starts: 936-645-0504

Protecting your license, strengthening your business

The 2026 compliance reporting period is right around the corner!

Certain TABC-licensed businesses are required to conduct a self-inspection by logging into the Alcohol Industry Management System (AIMS) on an Android or Apple device. Learn more: https://buff.ly/R3esAmT

12/03/2025

De-Escalation Series: Day 1

The Goal of De-Escalation: Keep People Safe & Keep the License Safe

When a situation starts to get tense in a bar, most people think the problem is the customer.
But more often, the real issue is how the staff responds.

After years in law enforcement, I saw this pattern over and over again:

🔹 Tone matters

A calm voice can de-escalate a situation faster than any policy.
A harsh tone can escalate it instantly.

🔹 Overreacting gets businesses in trouble

When staff let frustration or emotion take over, small issues turn into big ones.
That’s how fights start, guests get hurt, and licenses get put at risk.

🔹 Professionalism over ego

Your job isn’t to “win” the argument.
Your job is to keep your staff, your customers, and your business safe.

De-escalation is a skill and when done right, it protects everyone involved.

Tomorrow we’ll dive into how your pace, tone, and volume can change the entire outcome of a situation.

12/02/2025

Holiday travel increases the risk of alcohol related driving incidents across Texas. December consistently shows a rise in DWI arrests as people celebrate and travel.
Legal situations can happen when people least expect them. Texas Legal provides members with access to Participating Attorneys for covered legal matters, helping families stay prepared and supported during high risk times.
Stay protected. Stay informed.
Learn more at www.TexasLegal.org

12/02/2025

TAB Consulting is launching a brand-new De-Escalation Series designed specifically for bartenders, door staff, and managers.

After 18 years in law enforcement and TABC enforcement, I’ve seen firsthand how the right words, tone, and approach can prevent fights, avoid violations, and keep your business protected.

This series will break down:
How to talk to intoxicated guests
How to keep situations calm
What NOT to say (and what to say instead)
How managers, bartenders, and door guys work as a team
When to remove someone safely
When to call law enforcement
And how to document everything properly

Whether you’re a bar owner, a bartender trying to stay safe, or door staff keeping the peace , this series is for you.

Starts soon. Stay tuned.