Requirements and Guidelines

Requirements

Effective January 1, 2025, amendments to existing law allow for a city, county, or city and county to enact an ordinance that creates entertainment zones within their local jurisdiction. An established entertainment zone authorizes the consumption of one or more types of alcoholic beverages on public streets, sidewalks, or public rights-of-way located within the defined boundaries of the entertainment zone. Licensees who would like to participate in an established entertainment zone must meet the following requirements:

1. Must be either a licensed beer manufacturer (e.g., Type 01, 23, 75), a licensed winegrower (e.g., Type 02), or an on-sale licensee (e.g., Type 41, 42, 47, 48). The example license types provided are not inclusive of all license types that may be able to participate. You should contact your local ABC office if you have questions about your ability to participate in an established entertainment zone.
2. The licensed premises that will be participating must be located within the defined boundaries of the established entertainment zone. You should contact the local jurisdiction responsible for creating the entertainment zone if you have questions about the defined boundaries.
3. Licensees who would like to participate in an established entertainment zone must notify the department of their intent to do so on an annual basis. This can be done online via the department’s Entertainment Zone Notification Tool.

Guidelines

1. Only those alcoholic beverages allowable by the license type and the ordinance establishing the entertainment zone may be provided to patrons for purposes of participating in the entertainment zone’s privileges.
2. Patrons leaving the participating licensed premises with an open alcoholic beverage container must exit the premises directly into the established entertainment zone. Additionally, this may only occur during the days and hours allowed by the ordinance establishing the entertainment zone.
3. No alcoholic beverages purchased at a participating licensed premises may leave the premises in an open glass or metal container.
4. Delivery of alcoholic beverages to consumers within the entertainment zone by the participating licensee or a third-party delivery service is prohibited unless the delivery is to a residential building or private business that is not a licensee.
5. Participating licensees whose privileges are restricted due to operating conditions or other statutory restrictions may be prohibited from exercising entertainment zone privileges that are contrary to those operating conditions or statutory restrictions. For example, a licensee with an operating condition that limits sales and/or consumption of alcoholic beverages to 10 p.m. must still abide by this condition regardless of the time allowable by the established entertainment zone. However, any operating conditions on the exercise of off-sale privileges shall not apply to the removal of open alcoholic beverage containers from the participating licensed premises for consumption within the entertainment zone.

It is the participating licensee’s responsibility to understand the privileges and restrictions associated with participating in an established entertainment zone. Any violations associated with a licensee’s participation in an established entertainment zone may subject the licensee to disciplinary action. Before participating in an established entertainment zone, licensees should familiarize themselves with the following sections of the ABC Act: Business and Professions Code Sections 23095.5, 23357, 23358, 23396, 25690, 25691, and 25692. Licensees should also be fully aware of the privileges and restrictions associated with the ordinance that established the entertainment zone.

Contact

For additional information,
contact your local ABC District Office.