ABC Suspends Chula Vista Restaurant for Serving Alcohol to an Underage Patron

San Diego – The Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) has issued a 30-day suspension of the liquor license for Las Tres Catrinas, located at 555 Broadway, Suite 1084, Chula Vista, after an investigation found the business served alcohol to a 20-year-old patron on January 16, 2022. After leaving the restaurant, the patron lost his life in a single-vehicle car crash.

ABC opened a Target Responsibility for Alcohol Connected Emergencies (TRACE) investigation immediately after the incident to determine the source of the alcohol that was illegally served. ABC agents determined that two Las Tres Catrinas servers, overseen by a manager, repeatedly served alcohol to 20-year-old Jonathan Ortiz Zaragoza without ever checking his ID.

“Preventing underage drinking is a public safety priority,” said ABC Director Eric Hirata. “We want to remind licensees to check IDs carefully to help keep our youth and communities safe.”

ABC filed disciplinary action against La Tres Catrinas’ alcoholic beverage license for furnishing alcoholic beverages to a minor resulting in death. La Tres Catrinas settled the action and agreed to a 30-day suspension of their liquor license, with a one-year revocation stayed. The business cannot sell alcohol for the next 30 days, and if any other violations occur within the one-year stayed period, ABC has authority to revoke the license permanently.

The TRACE program is made possible by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The grant provides funding for ABC investigations of alcohol-related incidents that involve a person under 21 causing great bodily injury or death, or anyone charged with vehicular manslaughter that was under the influence of alcohol regardless of their age.

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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