Signage Requirements and Ideas for Retail Licensees

To the Licensee

Posting signs at your licensed establishment makes good business sense. Signs can:

• Make your customers and employees aware of your policies or the law;
• Prevent a surprised or angry customer;
• Support what your employees tell your customers;
• Show you are a responsible member of the community; and
• Help you comply with State and local laws.

The following sign requirements may apply to you as a retail licensee. Licensees who fail to post required signs may receive a fine, suspension, or in repeated cases, revocation of their alcoholic beverage license. The Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) does not furnish or sell signs to licensees. Sources for signs are listed where known.

Customer Warning

Applies to:

Type 20 and 21 licensees

Sign Requirement:

You must post a sign in your store that warns customers about certain laws and penalties relating to the sale of alcoholic beverages to, or the purchase of alcoholic beverages by, any person under the age of 21 years. There is no minimum size requirement for the sign. The sign must be placed at an entrance or at a point of sale in your store, or in any other location in your store that is visible to your customers and employees (Illustration #16). (Section 25658.4 Business & Professions Code)

Source:

Make your own, have it made, or use Illustration #16 in this PDF download.

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Excess Signs on Windows and Doors

Applies to:

Type 20 and 21 licensees

Sign Requirement:

No more than 33% of the square footage of the windows and clear doors may have advertising or signs of any sort. Signage shall be placed so that law enforcement personnel have a clear and unobstructed view of the interior of the store from the outside. This includes areas where the cash register is located. (Section 25612.5(c)(7) Business & Professions Code)

Source:

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Loitering and Open Containers

Applies to:

Type 20, 21,40, 42, 48, and 61 licensees

Sign Requirement:

Upon written notice from ABC, you must post signs prohibiting loitering and open alcoholic beverage containers. ABC will issue the written notice when there is substantial evidence of loitering or drinking in public,, adjacent to the premises. The signs must be prominent, permanent and clearly visible. Generally, the signs should be 24" in length and 14" in width with the print of sufficient size to make them clearly readable. The placement should be reasonable based upon the physical layout of the premises (Illustrations #12 and #13)<br>(Section 25612.5 (c)(1 )(2) Business & Professions Code)

Source:

Make your own or have them made.

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No Person Under 21 Allowed

Applies to:

Type 42, 48 and 61 licensees

Sign Requirement:

You must maintain a sign reading, "No Person Under 21 Allowed" at or near each public entrance. The sign must be visible from the exterior. In addition, a sign of like size and content must be posted at a prominent place inside the licensed premises. These signs must be at least 7" x 11" and have lettering at least l" in height (Illustration #14). (Rule 107, California Code of Regulations)

Source:

Make your own or have them made.

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Offensive Signs

Applies to:

All licensees

Sign Requirement:

Signs may not be gaudy, blatant, or offensive, and must not obstruct the view of the interior of the premises from the street. (Section 25612 Business and Professions Code)

Source:

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ABC License Suspension

Applies to:

Any licensee whose license has been suspended by order of the Department

Sign Requirement:

Every licensee whose license has been suspended by order of ABC must post two notices in conspicuous places, one on the exterior and one on the interior, for the duration of the suspension. The notices are 24" x 14." The licensee may not advertise or post signs to the effect that the premises have been closed or business suspended for any reason other than by order of ABC. (Rule 108, California Code of Regulations)

Source:

ABC will furnish and post these signs.

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Signs Furnished by Suppliers for use by Retailers

Applies to:

All licensees

Sign Requirement:

Alcoholic beverage suppliers may give signs advertising their products to retail accounts for interior display. Signs advertising wine or distilled spirits given to on-sale premises cannot exceed 630 square inches in size.

In general, permitted interior signs may have no secondary or utilitarian value. Permitted signage may not be personalized or customized for any retail account. Suppliers may not pay money or furnish anything of value to anyone for the privilege of placing signage in a retail licensed business.

Exterior signs are not authorized and may not be furnished without charge to retail licensees. (Rule l 06, California Code of Regulations)

Source:

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Cancer/Pregnancy Warning

Applies to:

All retail licensees, including special event licensees

Sign Requirement:

You must post warning signs regarding cancer risk and birth defects. The law is very specific as to sign size, font size, and placement. (Illustration #15). (Section 1260l(b)(l)(D)(l) and 12601(b)(4)(E) California Code of Regulations)

Source:

Your local alcoholic beverage distributor or Sign Management Company (800) 421-3003

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Tobacco

Applies to:

Any licensee who sells tobacco products

Sign Requirement:

You must (l) Keep a copy of Penal Code Section 308 conspicuously posted; and (2) Post a warning sign at each point of sale and on each vending machine, stating that selling tobacco products to minors is illegal and subject to penalties. Warning signs must include a toll-free number (l -800-5-ASK-4-ID) that customers may use to report observed tobacco sales to youth under the age off 21. (Sections 22950-22960 Business and Professions Code)

Source:

Department of Health Services, Tobacco Control Section, (910) 558-1784.

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Smoking

Applies to:

All licensees

Sign Requirement:

Post clear and prominent signs, as follows:

(1) Where smoking is prohibited throughout the building or structure, a sign stating "No smoking" shall be posted at each entrance to the building or structure.

(2) Where smoking is permitted in designated areas of the building or structure, a sign stating "Smoking is prohibited except in designated areas" shall be posted at each entrance to the building or structure. (Section 6404.5, California Labor Code)

Source:

Your local Health Department.

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Slavery and Human Trafficking Public Notice

Applies to:

Type 48, 67, and 80

Sign Requirement:

You must post a notice informing the public victims of human trafficking of telephone hotline numbers to seek help or report unlawful activity. postings are required to be in both English and Spanish (Illustration #17) and possibly a third language if a business is located in a specific county in which a third language posting is required. Visit the Attorney General of California website for counties in need of a third language posting and examples of posters in these various languages below:
(Civil Code 52.6)

Source:

See Illustration #17 in this PDF download.

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Drug Test Kits to Prevent Drink Spiking

Applies to:

Type 48 licensees

Sign Requirement:

Beginning July 1, 2024, the type 48 licensee or applicant must post the following notice verbatim in a prominent and conspicuous location on their licensed premises: “Don’t get roofied! Drink spiking drug test kits available here. Ask a staff member for details.” (Section 25624 Business & Professions Code)

Source:

Make your own, have it made, or print a copy of this PDF download.

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Other Requirements

The following agencies and local cities and counties may also have sign requirements.

• U.S. Equal Employment Commission, San Francisco District Office, 450 Golden Gate Ave., San Francisco, CA 94102, (800) 669-4000.
• U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, 90 7th Street Ste. 2650, San Francisco, CA 94103, (415) 625-2574.
• California Fair Employment and Housing Department, 2218 Klausen Dr., #100 Elk Grove, CA 95758, (916) 478-7251, or 30 Van Ness Ave., 3rd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94102, (415) 557-2005.
• Industrial Welfare Commission, Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, P.O. Box 603, San Francisco, CA 94101, (415)703-3820.
• Department of Industrial Relations, Division of Occupational Safety and Health, 525 Golden Gate Ave., San Francisco, CA 94102, (415) 557-0300.
• Employment Development Department, 722 Capitol Mall, Sacramento, CA 95814, (866) 333-4606.
• Department of Conservation, Division of Recycling, 801 K St., 15-52, Sacramento, CA 95814, (800) 642-5669.