Party on, California!

[John Q. Public]

Two new laws in 2025:

Senate Bill 969, authored by state Sen. Scott Weiner, will let local governments designate “entertainment zones,” where bars and restaurants can sell alcoholic beverages for people to drink on public streets and sidewalks.

AB 1775 legalizes Amsterdam-style cannabis cafes, allowing lounges to also sell food and drinks that aren’t pre-packaged. After opposition from the American Heart and Lung Association and Newsom’s veto of a similar bill in 2022, AB 1775 includes additional protections for workers against secondhand smoke.

“Lots of people want to enjoy legal cannabis in the company of others,” bill author Assemblymember Matt Haney, also a San Francisco Democrat, said in a statement. “And many people want to do that while sipping coffee, eating a sandwich, or listening to music. There’s no doubt that cannabis cafes will bring massive economic, cultural and creative opportunities and benefits to our state.”

https://calmatters.org/economy/2024/12/ ... laws-2025/

I don't do either anymore, so I feel like a vegan in a state that's legalizing meat, but they sound like good things as long as the permits are handled judiciously.

[ShiftyMutt]

I've not read the details of this but as someone who used to own a nightclub, I know, at least back then, you'd have to have an off-sale liquor license for to-go sales (anywhere outside the building). So I guess within these 'zones' it's not considered off-sale (?).

Interesting..

[John Q. Public]

Yeah, a lot of questions about that. Is it to cover places that set up enclosures in their parking lots and maybe connecting them with neighboring establishments or is it to turn some downtown areas into big parties? Will access have to be restricted, like Universal City, Downtown Disney, Irvine Spectrum or would downtown areas qualify?

And what if an area has "that one bad neighbor" where most of the places would benefit but they wouldn't want the biker bar across the street to be included? Or what if they're all "bad neighbors" but qualify under the letter of the law? Seems like there could be conflicts.

And what's to keep people from treating their drinks as just "to go"?

And what about glassware? Places aren't going to want their glasses getting away and Solo cups aren't always the appropriate vessel.