Alcoholic Beverage Control Agents Will be Working to Increase Public Safety During Memorial Day Weekend

Sacramento – The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) today announced it will have agents out ensuring public safety through enforcement of alcoholic beverage laws on Memorial Day weekend. ABC agents will visit ABC licensed businesses to make sure licensees are checking identifications to prevent underage drinking, and that people are staying safe during this COVID-19 pandemic.

“Improving overall safety and reducing youth access to alcohol is a goal of the ABC,” says ABC Director Jacob Appelsmith. “In addition to ABC’s law enforcement presence, citizens can also do their part to keep everyone safe by following the guidance of health experts and practicing safe physical distancing.”

ABC’s preference is education over enforcement. Agents continue to follow up on complaints about ABC licensed businesses re-opening to inside dining and alcohol consumption on the premises in counties where stay at home orders have not been lifted. ABC has contacted at least 167 locations in 43 different counties. Most have complied with the requests made by ABC agents asking them to shift to take-out dining, and to close to in house dining or alcohol consumption voluntarily, until it is safe to re-open, in order to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

Additionally, ABC understands and recognizes that the pandemic has caused great economic stress, which is why the Department has pushed through several Notices of Regulatory Relief to help businesses weather this crisis. You can find all of our Regulatory Relief advisories in the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates section of our public website.

Memorial Day enforcement efforts are funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

ABC protects communities through education and by administering prevention and enforcement programs designed to increase compliance with California’s alcoholic beverage laws.

ABC is a department of the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency.

Contact

Additional information may be obtained by contacting:

Public Information Office
3927 Lennane Drive, Suite 100
Sacramento, CA 95834
Email: pio@abc.ca.gov
Phone: (916) 419-2525

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