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Entertainment Zone Participation

Previous legislation allowed for the creation of entertainment zones (via local ordinance) in the City of San Francisco. New and amended legislation opens up the possibility of more licensees participating in entertainment zones by expanding the privilege to the entire state. Below is information on laws and guidelines on existing and expanded privileges associated with entertainment zone participation.

Expanded Participation

See Senate Bill 969 for a review of the new, expanded open container entertainment zone participation legislative information.

Requirements and Guidelines

Review the requirements and guidelines for participating in an open container entertainment zone.

Submit Notification

Submit your notice of intent to participate in an open container entertainment zone.

Existing Participation

Existing law authorizes the creation of entertainment zones (via local ordinance) in the city and county of San Francisco. The legislation permits consumers to leave the premises of a beer manufacturer, wine manufacturer, or on-sale licensee with open containers of alcoholic beverages for consumption off the premises within an open container entertainment zone if the necessary conditions, requirements, and guidelines are adhered to.

Expanded Participation

Passage of Senate Bill 969 amended Sections 23095.5, 23357, 23358, 25690; and added Sections 25691 and 25692. This legislation opens up the possibility of more licensees participating in open container entertainment zones by expanding the privilege to the entire State of California. Amendments to existing laws now allow on-sale licensees, beer manufacturers, and winegrowers to participate in city, county, or city and county established entertainment zones. Specifically, during the approved days and hours of an established entertainment zone, these licensees may participate by allowing patrons to leave their premises with open containers of alcoholic beverages. Patrons with open containers must exit the premises directly into an entertainment zone and only those alcoholic beverages specified by the ordinance creating the entertainment zone may be permitted.

Before exercising the entertainment zone privileges, licensees must notify the department of their intent to participate in an open container entertainment zone. Licensees must use the Entertainment Zone Participation Notification Tool to submit their notice of intent. Licensees eligible to exercise the privilege of open container entertainment zone participation may begin participation immediately after submitting the online notification.

Licensees should carefully review the Requirements and Guidelines and Frequently Asked Questions before submitting your annual notice of intent to participate.

Submit Entertainment Zone Participation Notification

Contact

For additional information,
contact your local district office.

- OR -

Frequently Asked Questions

An entertainment zone is a defined public area (e.g., public roadway, sidewalk, etc.) within a local jurisdiction that allows for the open consumption of specified alcoholic beverages during specified days and hours.

Entertainment zones are established by a city, county, or city and county ordinance.

Eligible ABC licensees may participate in the privileges associated with an entertainment zone by allowing their patrons to leave the premises with an open alcoholic beverage container for purposes of consumption within that entertainment zone.

Unless statutory restrictions or certain operating conditions dictate otherwise, beer manufacturers, winegrowers, and on-sale licensees whose premises are located within the defined boundaries of an established entertainment zone are eligible to participate.

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