Fresno Alcohol Beverage Compliance Lawyer

Fresno Alcohol Beverage Compliance Attorney

With such an active night scene, it’s no wonder the City of Fresno is home to so many businesses serving alcohol, from handcrafted beer to exotic cocktails. Under California’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) is responsible for the taxation, manufacture, and distribution of alcohol in California. Given its complex directives, hiring a Fresno alcohol beverage compliance lawyer can help limit your business’s liability.

Complying with ABC regulations isn’t always easy. While alcoholic beverage laws are important for public safety and keeping alcohol out of the hands of minors, they can make compliance difficult. Attorneys at Blake & Ayaz have a combined 100 years of experience navigating the network of state and federal laws that govern alcohol sales in Fresno, the fifth-largest city in California.

In addition to state ABC compliance, Fresno enacted the Responsible Neighborhood Market Act (RNMA). The RNMA forced additional licensing on liquor stores, sometimes costing $100,000 or more. It also required stores to maintain a 1,000-foot distance from one another. 

Hire a Fresno Alcohol Beverage Compliance Lawyer

There are almost 100 different ABC license types. Knowing which kind is right for your business is an important part of legal compliance. Each license has particular guidelines that a licensee must meet.

Some of the most common types of licenses are:

• Beer Manufacturer. This type of license allows a brewery to produce over 60,000 barrels of beer per year. All beer-makers in California must have this license unless they are a home brewer. Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) requirements govern this license, and all alcohol servers must be RBS certified.
• Distilled Spirits Manufacturer. According to California Business and Professions Code (BPC) 23015, a distilled spirits manufacturer produces spirits from “naturally fermented materials or in any other manner.” This license also covers flavoring, coloring, packaging, and bottling, among other actions listed in BPC 23356.
• Beer and Wine Importer. This license may only be used in conjunction with another license for resale. It only allows the holder to import and export alcoholic beverages and then transfer them to themselves under another license.
• Off-Sale Beer and Wine. Retail stores must obtain this license to sell alcohol for consumption off-premises.
• On-Sale Beer. This license allows for the sale of beer in a tavern or pub. Distilled spirits and wine are not allowed. Licensees are required to have snacks present.

With so many licenses, it can feel impossible to remember the intricacies of each one. When you hire a Fresno alcohol beverage compliance lawyer, you can let our experience and vast knowledge of California’s ABC, Fresno’s RNMA, and other regulatory statutes protect your business and keep it in compliance, while helping you avoid hefty fines and license revocation.

What Happens When You’re in Non-Compliance With the ABC Act in California?

In 2025, ABC reported a 99.7% compliance rate among licensees in California. However, when circumstances occur that result in your business being non-compliant with the Department of ABC Act, they have wide discretion in how to penalize your business. An ABC officer can apply non-compliance penalties ranging from a letter of warning to revocation of your license.

Because ABC has leeway with penalties, a skilled alcoholic beverage compliance attorney can present mitigating circumstances to help your case and potentially save your license.

Providing proof of employee retraining, showing a business’s previous compliance, and presenting evidence of a licensee’s willingness to correct the problem are effective ways to influence an ABC official’s decision.

FAQs

Q: Who Enforces California’s Alcohol-Related Laws in Fresno?

A: The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, or ABC, enforces California’s alcohol-related laws in Fresno. ABC works with local law enforcement in Fresno County and throughout the Central Valley to eliminate crime. ABC can penalize licensees if they are non-compliant with relevant alcohol-related laws.

At Blake & Ayaz, our experienced team has an excellent relationship with ABC and the local courts, giving our clients an advantage when filing paperwork with ABC for licenses, renewals, and changes.

Q: Can an ABC License Be Transferred?

A: Yes, an ABC license can be transferred in several instances. Types of transfers include:

1. Person to person. Transfer of a license to another owner
2. Premises to premises. Transfer of a license to a new location)
3. Double transfer. Transfer of a license to both a new owner and a new location
4. Drop partner. One owner leaves a partnership
5. Stock transfer. Transfer of 50% or more of ownership
6. Fiduciary. A transfer between spouses

Q: What Happens if an ABC License Is Revoked in California?

A: If an ABC license is revoked in California, you can work with an alcohol beverage compliance lawyer to get your business back into compliance. Understanding state and federal laws that apply to your specific license is crucial for both getting back into compliance and maintaining compliance once it is achieved.

Between 2023 and 2024, ABC reported 191 license suspensions and 125 revocations.

Q: How Much Does a Fresno Alcoholic Beverage Lawyer Cost?

A: The cost of a Fresno alcoholic beverage lawyer can vary greatly depending on the services a business needs. Some businesses may need help acquiring an initial license, while others may need help overturning a revocation or transferring a license to another owner. Still others may need ongoing support to remain in compliance with ABC and RNMA. Speaking with an alcoholic beverage compliance lawyer about your specific needs can give you a better picture of costs.

How Blake & Ayaz Can Help Your Business

The team at Blake & Ayaz can offer support for businesses in Fresno and across California. Our working relationship with ABC allows for a smoother licensing process, and we can walk our clients through the necessary applications.

Our experience with ABC hearings gives us a unique strategic approach to protecting your license and right to operate during suspension and revocation proceedings. In the event your suspension is deemed justified by ABC, we can negotiate shorter suspension periods or lesser penalties and show how your business is meeting the criteria necessary to continue operating.

If you are involved in the sale, distribution, or manufacturing of alcoholic beverages in Fresno or elsewhere in California, reach out to Blake & Ayaz today, located at 2107 North Broadway Street in Santa Ana.