The process for obtaining a California liquor license can be complicated. Licenses to sell beer and wine are available year-round from the State of California if the applicant and the premises qualify. However, general licenses, which authorize the retail sale of beer, wine, and distilled spirits, are restricted in number and are authorized to be […]

Recently enacted legislation (Assembly Bill 605, Statutes 2010, effective January 1, 2011) created sections 23396.6 and 25503.56 of the Business and Professions Code. In addition to providing for a new California instructional tasting license, these sections include carefully crafted exceptions to California’s three-tier system of alcohol regulation. As such, they are nuanced and contain many […]