The Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control is proposing emergency powers to shut down bars and restaurants if they disobey the state’s public health order by serving mojitos and manhattans to patrons in an establishment.
“Many businesses and citizens have demonstrated an unwillingness to abide by the public health orders and have instead opened for business, increasing risks to the public health, safety, and welfare,” the state wrote in justifying the rule change.
“Recently the department began to receive complaints that some ABC licensees are disregarding the laws and regulations set by the department or orders from their local officials and are thereby harming the public health, safety and welfare,” the department wrote.
When a Fresno restaurant defied public health orders, it ended up paying thousands of dollars in fines for serving dine-in customers, The Fresno Bee reported.
After a Mother’s Day arrest made in front of his eatery and a $5,000 fine, restaurant owner Ammar Ibrahim wrote on Facebook that his restaurant will return to serving take-out orders only.
