Updated November 8, 2026. This article covers a July 2022 ABC enforcement action and is based on ABC’s announcement and contemporaneous reports. Requirements and sources were reviewed as of this update. It is general information, not legal advice.
What ABC announced in July 2022
On July 15, 2022, the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) announced that it had revoked the liquor license of Grandma’s Sports Bar and Grill at 1901 Flower Street in Bakersfield, and that alcohol sales were immediately prohibited.
According to ABC, agents opened an investigation after receiving complaints from the community and found that the business, also known as Catrina’s, was operating a disorderly premises. ABC said the Kern County Sheriff’s Office had responded to multiple assaults at the location. The department said the owner signed an agreement accepting a penalty of revocation stayed, meaning the license was suspended indefinitely and had to be transferred within 180 days to a new owner at a new location.
Then-Director Eric Hirata said in ABC’s release: “ABC is committed to keeping communities safe. We will continue working with our local law enforcement partners to hold ABC licensees accountable when a location becomes a nuisance in the community.”
Bakersfield station 23ABC reported the action, as did the California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA), the union that represents ABC agents. CSLEA’s post quoted its president, Alan Barcelona: “Communities deserve safe environments including at their local eateries. It is the job of ABC agents to investigate community complaints and take the necessary steps to provide public safety.”
This article does not add facts beyond those reports. It explains what a disorderly premises case is, what a stayed revocation means, and how operators can keep problems from building to that point.
What “disorderly premises” means
California law holds licensees responsible not only for how they sell alcohol, but for how their premises operate. Business and Professions Code section 25601 addresses licensees who keep or permit a “disorderly house or place” connected to the licensed premises, including a place where people gather to the disturbance of the neighborhood or for purposes injurious to public health, convenience, or safety. The statute treats that conduct as a misdemeanor, and ABC can also bring administrative action against the license
In practice, disorderly premises cases often involve repeated problems such as fights, assaults, drug activity, or other conduct that draws frequent calls to police. In this case, ABC pointed to community complaints and multiple assaults to which sheriff’s deputies responded.
An important point for operators: a licensee does not need to start the trouble to be responsible for it. The question is whether the business allowed the conditions to continue. That is why consistent security, staff training, and cooperation with law enforcement matter.
Understanding a stayed revocation
ABC’s announcement used a specific penalty: revocation stayed. ABC explained that, in this case, the order meant the license was suspended indefinitely and the owner had to transfer it within 180 days to a new owner at a new location. In other words, the license could not continue to be used by that owner at that address.
ABC’s penalty guidelines describe a range of possible outcomes, from suspensions to outright revocation, and list factors that may make a penalty more or less severe. Stayed revocations are often paired with conditions; the specific terms depend on each case. ABC said the owner here signed an agreement accepting the penalty, which is one way administrative cases can be resolved without a contested hearing.
Why the outcome mattered
For a bar, losing the ability to sell alcohol at its location usually ends the business as it was. Even when the license itself can be transferred and sold, the operator loses the value of the location, the staff lose their jobs, and the neighborhood loses a venue. That is a strong reason to address problems long before they reach the point of formal action.
How community complaints lead to investigations
ABC said this investigation began with complaints from the community. Neighbors, local businesses, and police calls can all draw the department’s attention to a location. ABC’s district offices work with local law enforcement, and programs such as IMPACT, described on ABC’s business inspections page, pair ABC agents with local officers to visit licensed premises and check compliance.
ABC says IMPACT’s primary goal is to reduce alcohol-related crime in and around licensed premises, and that inspections focus on education, with follow-up visits about 20 days later to check whether problems were corrected. For licensees, an IMPACT visit is an early chance to fix issues before they become the subject of an accusation.
Warning signs operators should not ignore
Disorderly premises cases rarely appear overnight. They usually build from patterns that staff and managers can see. Watch for:
- Repeated fights, assaults, or arguments that spill into the parking lot.
- Frequent police calls, whether made by staff, neighbors, or guests.
- Over-service, especially late at night, that leaves many guests heavily intoxicated.
- Signs of drug sales or use on the premises.
- Loitering, littering, or noise complaints from neighbors.
- Security staff who are untrained, too few, or unsure when to call for help.
Each of these can be addressed. The key is to treat them as a management problem rather than something that just happens in a busy bar.
Steps that help prevent disorderly conditions
Serve responsibly
Many conflicts start with over-service. Section 25602 prohibits serving obviously intoxicated people, and training staff to slow service early reduces the chance of fights later. Our guide to Handling Intoxicated Guests Without Burning Out covers refusal techniques.
Invest in trained security
Door staff and security should know how to check IDs, de-escalate conflicts, and when to call police. California requires licensing for many security roles through the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services, and operators should confirm their security arrangements meet applicable requirements.
Keep good records
An incident log that records fights, refusals, police calls, and ejections shows that the business takes problems seriously. Working video cameras inside and outside the premises help both the business and investigators understand what happened.
Work with neighbors and police
Respond to complaints promptly, meet with neighbors when issues arise, and build a relationship with local law enforcement and the ABC district office. Asking for help early is better than waiting for an accusation.
Use ABC’s resources
ABC’s model house policies include sample rules on ID checks, intoxicated guests, and incident logs that businesses can adapt.
Closing time and the parking lot
Many problems at bars happen not at the bar itself but in the moments after last call. Crowds spill onto sidewalks and into parking lots, groups linger, and conflicts that started inside can flare up outside. Neighbors notice noise and fights at closing time more than almost anything else, and those observations often lead to complaints.
A planned closing routine helps. Slow alcohol service well before last call, turn up the lights, play quieter music, and have security move guests out gradually rather than all at once. Assign staff to watch the exits and parking area until the crowd has dispersed. Offer rideshare or taxi help to guests who should not drive. These steps protect guests and staff, and they show neighbors and police that the business is managing its impact.
A reset plan when warning signs appear
If a venue has started to see more fights, police calls, or complaints, a focused reset can help. A practical plan might include:
- Review the last few months. Look at the incident log, police calls, and complaints to find patterns by night, hour, or event type.
- Adjust problem nights. Change promotions, entertainment, or hours that are linked to trouble.
- Retrain the team. Hold a meeting on intoxication, refusals, and de-escalation, and confirm everyone’s RBS status.
- Strengthen security. Add staff at peak times, clarify roles, and set clear rules for when to call police.
- Talk to neighbors and police. Share the changes and ask for feedback.
- Ask ABC questions early. The local district office can explain requirements before problems become formal violations.
Documenting these steps also creates a record that the business took the problem seriously.
How RBS training supports a safer venue
This case was announced just two weeks after California’s mandatory Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) training took effect on July 1, 2022. ABC’s RBS program page explains that servers and managers at on-sale premises must complete approved training and pass ABC’s exam within 60 days of starting work.
The RBS curriculum covers recognizing intoxication, refusing service, checking identification, and understanding a licensee’s legal responsibilities. Those skills are directly relevant to preventing disorderly conditions. A team that consistently slows service, refuses when needed, and documents incidents is far less likely to see problems escalate.
Late-night hours can raise the stakes. Our article on late-night service in California discusses why closing-time routines matter.
What employees can do
Servers, bartenders, and security staff are often the first to notice when conditions start to slip. Employees can help by reporting concerns to managers, documenting incidents, refusing service when required, and calling for help when a situation becomes unsafe. A workplace where staff feel supported in those decisions is safer for everyone, including the staff themselves.
Workers also have their own protections. Cal/OSHA’s workplace violence prevention requirements, described on the Department of Industrial Relations website, apply to many employers and require plans to identify and address violence risks.
Frequently asked questions
What did ABC find at Grandma’s Sports Bar and Grill?
ABC said it found the business was operating a disorderly premises, and that the Kern County Sheriff’s Office had responded to multiple assaults there.
What does revocation stayed mean in this case?
ABC said the license was suspended indefinitely and had to be transferred within 180 days to a new owner at a new location.
Can a bar be responsible for fights it did not start?
Under section 25601, a licensee can face action for permitting disorderly conditions, even if staff did not start the conduct.
The bottom line
ABC’s July 2022 action in Bakersfield shows how community complaints and repeated police calls can lead to the loss of a license. The underlying lesson is about management: over-service, weak security, and ignored warning signs allow problems to grow. Responsible service, trained staff, good records, and early cooperation with neighbors and law enforcement are the most reliable ways to keep a venue safe and its license secure.
Build a safer venue with trained staff
Recognizing intoxication and refusing service are core RBS skills. ServeTrain’s RBS course helps California servers and managers prepare for ABC’s exam. Before enrolling, register or log in to your RBS Portal account with ABC and confirm your chosen course appears in the portal’s training provider search.
Sources
- California ABC, ABC Revokes the License of Grandma's Sports Bar and Grill in Bakersfield (July 15, 2022)
- 23ABC Bakersfield, State agency revokes liquor license of East Bakersfield sports bar (July 2022)
- California ABC, ABC Revokes the License of Grandma's Sports Bar and Grill in Bakersfield (July 15, 2022)
- California Legislature, Business and Professions Code §25601
- California ABC, Penalty Guidelines
- California ABC, Business Inspections (IMPACT)
- California Legislature, Business and Professions Code §25602
- California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services
- California ABC, Model House Policies
- California ABC, Responsible Beverage Service Training Program
- Cal/OSHA, Workplace Violence Prevention in General Industry
This article is general information, not legal advice.
