May an ABC-licensed establishment legally refuse to serve a customer for reasons unrelated to age or intoxication, such as appearance or behavior?
Explanation
A licensee retains the common-law right to refuse service to anyone, and §25602 affirmatively requires refusal when a patron is intoxicated. However, refusal cannot be based on race, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, disability, national origin, or other characteristics protected by Civil Code §51 (Unruh Civil Rights Act). Saying 'we're refusing to serve you tonight because you've reached your limit' is lawful; refusing because the customer is Latino, Vietnamese, or gay is not.
Law Reference: Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §25602(c)This topic, taught in full in the California RBS (Responsible Beverage Service) guide. California RBS — Responsible Beverage Service Study Guide (2026) — PDF + EPUB, $9.99 · 14-day refund →
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