Sacramento – The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) today announced that agents will be working in communities throughout California to make this year’s Halloween as safe as possible by providing education about current health orders to help stop the spread of COVID -19 and by utilizing ABC education and enforcement programs.
Because of the ongoing COVID -19 pandemic, Californians are encouraged to review the State’s safety guidelines for Halloween and Día de Los Muertos released by the California Department of Public Health at COVID-19 Guidance for a Safer Halloween and Día de los Muertos Celebrations.
ABC agents will visit ABC licensed businesses to check on compliance with current health orders, and to reduce alcohol service to obviously intoxicated patrons and underage youth. Licensees need to make sure their employees are wearing face coverings and practicing social distancing measures.
The Department also advises anyone of legal drinking age to help reduce DUI’s by designating a non-drinking driver before travelling to a location where alcohol is sold.
“Too many Californians are killed or injured in alcohol-related crashes and incidents and hopefully education, prevention, and enforcement efforts will prevent those tragedies from occurring,” said ABC Director Eric Hirata. “ABC encourages everyone to discuss how to make Halloween celebrations as safe as possible.”
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), harmful and underage drinking remain significant problems in this country and on U.S. campuses despite collective efforts to address them. More information on prevention strategies can be found on NIAAA’s website or College Drinking.
ABC protects communities through education and by administering prevention and enforcement programs designed to increase compliance with California’s alcoholic beverage laws. ABC licensees and their employees are encouraged to take ABC’s online LEAD training classes to help achieve higher compliance with alcoholic beverage laws. LEAD stands for Licensee Education on Alcohol and Drugs. You can now take the training online.
To learn more about ABC programs that help protect communities, prevent alcohol-related harm, and save lives visit. ABC Enforcement Programs or ABC Education Programs. ABC is a Department of the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency.
Funding for Halloween enforcement operations is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).