Modern Drunkard

We're getting official!

Kathy and I applied for our beer-and-wine license from the ABC (California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control). There are a number of hoops you have to jump through, including having yourself fingerprinted. And you have to read a bunch of rules about hiring minors, serving kids, and avoiding "table surfing."

Did you know that there are more than 45 different kinds of liquor licenses? I figured there were just two: a full liquor license and a beer/wine license. Nope. Turns out it makes a difference (to the ABC, at least) if you're a permanent restaurant, if you're a food truck, if you're serving at a special event, if you're located in a high-crime area, if you're on a boat, if you allow dancing, and more.

If anyone asks, we're getting a Type 41 license. That allows us to serve beer, wine, champagne, sherry, and other non-distilled spirits so long as it's always served with meals. (And "meal" has its own definition for licensing purposes. A basket of peanuts doesn't count.) Total sales of alcoholic beverages cannot exceed 50% of our revenue. Otherwise, we'd be a bar and that's a different license.

Did you know that alcoholic drinks are (supposed to be) served in different glasses than nonalcoholic drinks? That's so servers, waiters, and peace officers can tell at a glance who's quaffing booze and who isn't.

Plainclothes ABC officers are allowed to show up unannounced and prowl through our kitchen. They're allowed to arrest us (or anyone else) for violations of the licensing terms. And we have to buy our stock from an officially licensed alcohol wholesaler, not a retailer. No Costco or BevMo runs.

As part of the process we have to post this lovely poster in our front window for exactly 30 days. We also have to mail a form letter to everyone within 500 feet of the house, informing them of our intent to sell alcoholic beverages on the premises. They have 30 days to lodge a formal complaint if they want to, although we don't expect any trouble. And if anyone does complain, well, we just won't serve them any drinks.