Opening A Bar in California? These Are the Licenses You Need

California is a great place to open a bar or restaurant. Its diverse demographics make it easy to find a consumer base even for niche offerings, and its warm climate also allows for year-round service.

That said, if you’re planning on opening up a bar in California, there are specific standards you need to follow and licenses you need to acquire from the state to operate legally.

For example, this summer, starting July 1st, 2022, Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) certification will be mandated by the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) for all alcohol servers and managers. Business owners must ensure their staff goes through proper alcohol server and food handling training to obtain this certification and any other licence needed.

Use our guide to California licences to ensure you have the licences needed to open and operate a bar in California successfully:

Why is Licensing Necessary?

Licensing is necessary for any hospitality establishment. When participating in the sale and service of alcoholic beverages, you are responsible to your customers to serve them appropriately and safely. Licenses are a legal requirement and authenticate you as a state-verified vendor of alcoholic beverages.

There are 99-On Sale license types in California. If you own a bar, the types you will need to consider acquiring include #40 On-Sale Beer, #42 On-Sale Beer & Wine – Public Premises, or #48 On-Sale General – Public Premises. The type of license you require will be determined by the type of alcohol you are going to be serving.

California On Premise License Type 40: On-Sale Beer

On-sale Beer applies to bars and taverns and allows for the sale of beer for consumption on or off the premises where sold. This means that alcoholic beverages can be consumed inside the building or off the premises if there is an outdoor space or patio connected to the establishment. This license is specific to beer only and does not authorize the selling of wine or distilled spirits.

If your establishment is registered as a bar and not as a dine-in restaurant, offering full meals is not necessary, but snack food must be available. This license type authorizes minors to be on the premises.

California On Premise License Type 42: On-Sale Beer & Wine – Public Premises

The On-Sale Beer & Wine – Public Premises license allows establishments to sell beer and wine on-premises where food is not served. This license prevents minors from being on the premise of the establishment, and does not allow for the sale of distilled spirits

California On Premise License Type 48: On-Sale General – Public Premises

This license is required for the sale and service of beer, wine, and distilled spirits at any establishment where alcohol will be consumed on-premises. This is the most common license applied for when opening bars in the state of California.

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