Creates a liquor license for music venues

The Alcoholic Beverage Control Act contains various provisions regulating the application for, the issuance of, the suspension of, and the conditions imposed upon alcoholic beverage licenses by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Existing law provides for various annual fees for the issuance of alcoholic beverage licenses, depending upon the type of license issued.

This bill would authorize the department to issue a music venue license, as defined, that would allow the licensee to sell beer, wine, and distilled spirits at retail for consumption on the premises in a music entertainment facility, as defined. The bill would limit a music venue licensee’s authorization to sell, serve, and permit consumption of alcoholic beverages to the time period from 2 hours before a live performance until one hour after the live performance, subject to existing law that makes selling, giving, delivering, or purchasing an alcoholic beverage between the hours of 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. of the same day a misdemeanor. The bill would authorize an on-sale general bona fide public eating place licensee or an on-sale general public premises licensee as of the effective date of this bill to exchange that license for a music venue license, as provided. The bill would impose an original fee, an exchange fee, and an annual renewal fee for the license, which would be deposited in the Alcohol Beverage Control Fund. The bill would authorize an on-sale licensee to permit a person under 21 years of age into the music entertainment facility, as provided. The bill would authorize the department to promulgate regulations to implement these provisions.

This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 23320 of the Business and Professions Code proposed by AB 2971 to be operative only if this bill and AB 2971 are enacted and this bill is enacted last.