ABC Launches Entertainment Zone Participation Notification Tool

Sacramento – The Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control’s Entertainment Zone Participation Notification tool is now live on the ABC website. This new feature provides eligible ABC license holders the ability to submit their notice of intent to participate in California’s entertainment zones where open containers are authorized pursuant to a local ordinance. Notice must be filed annually before participating and the licensee must be located within a locally approved entertainment zone.

Effective January 1, 2025, Senate Bill 969 amended existing law to allow for California cities and counties to enact an ordinance that creates entertainment zones within their local jurisdiction. 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 state and local conditions, requirements, and guidelines are adhered to.

To participate, applicants must be an on-sale licensee, beer manufacturer or wine manufacturer, and their premises must be located within the specified boundaries of the applicable entertainment zone, among other requirements. Entertainment zones are established by city, county, or city and county ordinances.

ABC’s new tool will determine if the license number entered has a license type that is eligible to exercise the privileges in SB 969, but not whether a licensee is located in an active entertainment zone. Licensees can begin exercising the privileges immediately after submitting their notice, but the notification must be renewed annually.

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

Contact

Additional information may be obtained by contacting:

Public Information Office
3927 Lennane Drive, Suite 100
Sacramento, CA 95834
Email: pio@abc.ca.gov
Phone: (916) 419-2525

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