California Restaurants That Defy Stay-at-Home Order Are at Risk of Losing Liquor License

Restaurants opening for dine-in service, defying Gov. Gavin Newsom’s coronavirus stay-at-home order, have been warned by California officials that they may lose their liquor license.

Fox News reported that the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control visited restaurants in Yuba and Sutter counties north of Sacramento. These agents have, since then, requested that the restaurants voluntarily close their dining rooms.

“They’re making a big mistake,” Newsom said about the defiant counties. He also said, “They’re putting their public at risk. They’re putting our progress at risk. These are real exceptions. The overwhelming majority of Californians are playing by the rules, doing the right thing.”

In a statement on its website, ABC said the department “has received numerous complaints in the past six weeks that licensees have opened their premises in defiance of these orders.”

“The Department has investigated all of these complaints,” it also said. “For those found to be so operating, the Department has contacted these licensees and advised them to close immediately,” the statement added. Additionally, Ninety-eight percent agreed to close voluntarily.

“The Department will not pursue disciplinary action against these licensees,” the statement also said. “For any licensee who has continued to operate despite the Department’s efforts to persuade them to voluntarily comply, the Department is pursuing administrative action against the licensed premises, an action that could result in the suspension or revocation of the license.”

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