Existing law, the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, which is administered by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, regulates the application, issuance, and suspension of alcoholic beverage licenses. Existing law prescribes a schedule of application and other fees for different license types and distinguishes between new licenses and duplicate licenses. Existing law authorizes the exchange of specified licenses, subject to the approval of the department, payment of a $100 exchange fee, and compliance with all other relevant provisions of the act.

This bill would authorize any person that has a brewpub-restaurant license to exchange that license for a bona fide public eating place license subject to the approval of the department, payment of a $100 exchange fee, compliance with other relevant provisions of the act relating to the issuance of an original license, and the payment of the fee required for a new permanent license for an on-sale general eating place. The bill would specify that these provisions apply only to a person that has held a brewpub-restaurant license since on or before December 31, 2019. The bill would authorize the department to adjust the fee required for the exchange of the license, as specified. The bill would authorize the department to designate a license issued pursuant to these provisions as an on-sale general license for special use, as specified. The bill would prohibit a license issued pursuant to these provisions from being sold or transferred for an amount greater than a specified price.