Alcoholic Beverage Control Agents will be out Memorial Day Weekend
Agents will work with Local Law Enforcement to Increase Public Safety
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 both ABC licensed businesses and some large venues to help prevent disorderly activity and reduce alcohol service to obviously intoxicated patrons and persons under 21 years-old.
ABC reminds the public to designate a non-drinking driver before any celebrations where alcohol is involved. Along with enforcement efforts, ABC relies on all licensees to follow the law.
“Improving overall safety in communities is a goal of the ABC,” says ABC Director Jacob Appelsmith. “In addition to an increased law enforcement presence, citizens can do their part to keep everyone safe by planning to take alternative transportation to get home safely following celebrations involving alcohol.”
In addition to ABC’s education, prevention, and enforcement efforts, other law enforcement agencies throughout California will be looking for signs of alcohol and/or drug impairment. Specially trained allied law enforcement officers will be out to evaluate those suspected of drug-impaired driving, which now accounts for a growing number of impaired driving collisions.
The California ABC supports the effort by the Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to educate all drivers that “Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Doesn’t Just Mean Booze.” If you take prescription drugs, particularly those with a driving or operating machinery warning on the label, you might be impaired enough to get a DUI. Marijuana can also be impairing, especially in combination with alcohol or other drugs, and can result in a DUI.
Memorial Day enforcement efforts are funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and remember – Report Drunk Drivers – call 911. The next statewide DUI campaign is set for Independence Day in July.
ABC protects communities through education and by administering prevention and enforcement programs designed to increase compliance with California’s alcoholic beverage laws. ABC licensees and their employees are encouraged to take ABC’s free four hour LEAD training classes. LEAD stands for Licensee Education on Alcohol and Drugs. To learn more about ABC programs that help protect communities, prevent alcohol-related harm and save lives visit the Enforcement page on ABC’s website.
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