San Francisco Alcohol Beverage Compliance Lawyer

San Francisco Alcohol Beverage Compliance Attorney

If you are an employee or employer who works with alcohol, it’s important to understand California’s alcohol beverage compliance laws. A San Francisco alcohol beverage compliance lawyer has experience dealing with the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) and can help you navigate your case and ensure you remain compliant.

Our experienced team at Blake & Ayaz has decades of experience navigating complex ABC matters, and we have helped countless clients understand important alcohol beverage compliance laws to ensure their businesses adhere to state and federal regulations. Whether you’re actively facing an issue or you simply have a question about California’s alcohol beverage compliance laws, you can count on us to help.

San Francisco Alcohol Beverage Compliance Laws

It’s important for businesses in California to adhere to all alcohol beverage compliance laws. When they don’t, it puts people at risk. For example, proper alcohol beverage compliance is important for curbing underage drinking.

A total of 834,000 young people in California ages 12 to 20 used alcohol in 2021. Beyond that, ABC regulations keep adult drinkers and the general population safer, too.

Approximately 56,000 ABC licensees in California have the privilege to sell alcohol on the premises. This includes bars, catering events, clubs, hotels, movie theatres, restaurants, stadiums, and tasting rooms. In fiscal year 2025, there were a total of 9,333 permanent license applications received.

These businesses have undergone the proper training and are able to serve alcohol legally. That being said, it’s important that they remain compliant as they continue to run their business, or else they could run into issues down the road. These types of cases can be complicated, often involving anyone from local law enforcement to federal investigators.

When you hire an alcohol beverage compliance lawyer, you can rest assured you’re operating on the right side of the law without having to funnel too much of your focus into compliance laws. If you are facing a potential violation, a lawyer can help you navigate challenging situations, ensuring that you keep your business running without too much disruption.

Establishments that handle or serve alcohol must understand alcohol beverage compliance laws and stay up to date on the right practices, which can be a lot to take on in addition to all their other tasks.

What Is Considered Alcohol-Related Harm in San Francisco?

California’s alcohol beverage compliance laws exist to curb alcohol-related harm, which includes any harmful actions caused by the influence of alcohol. This also includes any harm done to a person, property, or community.

It’s important to note that the actions an inebriated person takes after getting drunk at an establishment can fall back on that establishment. Alcohol beverage compliance laws help us to understand how to interpret different situations regarding ABC violations and compliance issues.

What Is an RBS Certification in California?

A responsible beverage service (RBS) certification is a relatively new mandatory training program for employers and employees who handle and serve alcohol. Assembly Bill 1221 created the Responsible Beverage Service Training Program Act to reduce the number of alcohol-related incidents in local communities.

The law officially went into effect in July 2022, making it a relatively new piece of legislation. It’s helpful to work with a knowledgeable San Francisco alcohol beverage compliance lawyer to fully understand how your business interacts with California’s alcohol beverage compliance laws.

It’s important to note that RBS certifications must be renewed as well. They are valid for three years. In order to renew your certification, you must complete the proper training courses and pay the recertification fee. The program is enforced by the ABC and can impact a business’s ability to serve or handle alcohol.

What to Do if Your ABC License Is Revoked or Suspended in San Francisco

Many businesses won’t be able to operate without their ABC license, which is why it’s so important to know how to maintain compliance no matter the size or nature of your business. In some cases, you may be able to save your ABC license. This can be a challenge, which is why it’s recommended to hire an alcohol beverage compliance lawyer to help you through your case.

When you work with a San Francisco alcohol beverage compliance lawyer, you can rely on our legal assistance for any of your ABC needs. From applications to accusation defense and everything in between, we’ve got you covered. Our experienced attorneys have decades of experience working with California businesses, and we’re ready to put our skills to work for you.

Local San Francisco Alcohol Compliance Lawyers Near You

Navigating alcohol beverage compliance cases can be complicated, especially if you’re not familiar with California’s laws. It can be helpful to work with a San Francisco ABC violations attorney to ensure your business is compliant and that you fully understand California’s ABC violation laws.

Blake & Ayaz have over 100 years of combined experience navigating alcohol beverage compliance cases. We have a deep understanding of California’s ABC laws and can help you through any case. Our services include:

• Accusation defense
• Beverage labeling and formula
• Beverage permits
• Hearings and appeals
• Liquor licensing applications
• Liquor licensing enforcement
• Transfers and acquisitions

Every state has unique alcohol control laws, which is why it’s important to work with legal professionals who have experience with California alcohol beverage compliance laws. Blake & Ayaz can help you obtain your license and keep your business in good standing, so you don’t have to worry about a thing year after year.

Hire an Alcohol Beverage Compliance Lawyer to Help With Your San Francisco Business

Whether you’re dealing with a simple compliance question or you have an active case open for a violation of alcohol beverage compliance laws, it’s pertinent that you understand your legal options and the necessary steps to take to keep your business safe.

Fortunately, you don’t need to memorize everything about ABC laws on your own. It’s highly recommended that you hire an alcohol beverage compliance lawyer to help you with these complex cases.

Our team at Blake & Ayaz brings decades of combined experience working with businesses of all sizes. Contact our office to set up an initial consultation with a San Francisco alcohol beverage compliance lawyer today.