The liquor business is booming in today’s world. People can now buy their choice of drink from places like corner convenience stores, supermarkets, upcoming quaint bars or well-established nightclubs.
However, doing business in liquor is subject to stringent regulations. Noncompliance with these regulations can result in the revoking of the license to sell liquor. Moreover, for a new entrant in the market, the journey to establish themselves in an already thriving community is not easy. Liquor business owners also need to be careful about the timely renewal of their licenses; otherwise, they may be required to close their doors.
At Shah Grossi, we have extensive experience in assisting our clients with a range of liquor licensing issues. We also advise new business startups on matters related to getting a foothold in the liquor industry. We operate in California and deal with the main liquor regulating body of the state – the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) – regarding affairs of liquor licensing.
According to the California Constitution, the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control has the discretionary powers to revoke or suspend any liquor license to sell alcoholic beverages if they believe that there is a good cause that the “continuance of such license would be contrary to the public welfare or morals.” — Art. 20, sec. 22.
Our Services
Businesses should hire expert help when seeking a new liquor license or for renewal of an existing one. At Shah Grossi, our services take care of both the simple and the complicated requirements of liquor licensing.
We offer the following services in this practice area:
1. Condition Modification
We assist our clients to negotiate their desired terms and conditions with the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control when applying for a new license or during the renewal of an existing one.
2. Conditional Use Permits
In addition to the state department’s rules, each locality has its own set of liquor licensing regulations. We work with our clients to ensure that they get favorable and acceptable conditional use permits from the local planning committees or departments.
3. Regulatory Compliance
The rules for the alcoholic beverage industry are very specific and zealously enforced. Failure to comply with the regulations often leads to termination or revoking of licenses. We guide and assist our clients appropriately so that they can easily maintain regulatory compliance without jeopardizing their businesses.
4. Buying or Selling a Business
While planning to sell a liquor business, owners need to take into consideration several essential points. We work with our clients closely to help them make the right decisions during the entire buying and selling process of a liquor business.
5. License Appeal
In the case that a business has its liquor license revoked or a certain condition imposed on it, then the owner has the right to appeal that decision. However, any appeal must be made within a specific time window. Failure to do so results in the loss of the right to appeal. Even when an appeal is made, it might take up to one year to get a decision. Additionally, this decision might not always be favorable and there are chances that the suspension or revocation stays in place.
In all such cases, we assist our clients by helping them understand the process and the timelines. We also assess the likelihood of our clients winning the appeal and advise them accordingly.
How Can We Help You?
Starting or dealing with a liquor business requires extra attention and care. Business owners are not always well-informed about the nuances in this area of the law and often take unfavorable steps unintentionally.
At Shah Grossi, we have the knowledge to help you avoid these costly mistakes while ensuring that you are fully compliant when it comes to the question of liquor licenses.
To learn more about our services or for a consultation, please contact us at (213) 927-6980.