Menifee Restaurant Receives Suspension Following TRACE Investigation

Sacramento – The Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) on Feb. 17, 2026 suspended the license of BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse (30208 Haun Road) in Menifee, prohibiting alcohol sales for 25 days. The disciplinary action came after ABC found a minor was served alcohol and was later involved in a crash resulting in great bodily injury to multiple individuals.

ABC opened a TRACE (Target Responsibility for Alcohol Connected Emergencies) investigation immediately after the incident to determine the source of the alcohol the underage persons consumed.

The investigation, conducted by Agents from ABC’s TRACE Unit and the officers of the Menifee Police Department, determined that on November 20, 2023, a minor was served three alcoholic beverages by a server at BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse. The minor later drove and was involved in a crash with another vehicle. The car crash resulted in great bodily injuries to the minor, an adult passenger and the other driver.

“Restricting alcohol access for minors is critical to preventing incidents of this nature,” said ABC Director Paul Tupy. “Licensees must uphold their responsibility to serve lawfully and refrain from providing alcohol to underage individuals.”

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 the age of 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: [email protected]
Phone: (916) 419-2525

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