BREAKING: Watchdogging Emergency Alcohol Deregulation

In response to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control relaxed many of the longstanding rules constraining alcohol licensees. On Monday, April 14, Alcohol Justice Executive Director/CEO Bruce Lee Livingston delivered the following critique to ABC.

For the press release, click here.

For Spanish, click here (letter) or here (press release).

Dear Director Appelsmith,

We are writing in response to the regulatory relief for California alcohol licensees in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. We understand that this is an extraordinary time, and that the relief is intended to protect residents’ livelihoods and the tens of thousands of reputable alcohol licensees. Nonetheless, as an alcohol industry watchdog, we feel obligated to call attention to red flags and missed opportunities in the emergency response.

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