Long Beach Tavern License Revoked in 2022: Drug Sales, Disorderly Premises, and Lessons for Bars

After a fatal crash drew attention, undercover ABC agents found drug sales at a Long Beach tavern in 2022. Here is what the department reported, how the penalty worked, and how bars can spot trouble.

Updated November 8, 2026. This article covers an August 2022 ABC enforcement action and is based on ABC’s announcement and contemporaneous news reports. Requirements and sources were reviewed as of this update. It is general information, not legal advice.

What ABC announced on August 1, 2022

On August 1, 2022, the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) announced that it had revoked the liquor license of the Bottom’s Up Tavern at 1739 East Artesia Boulevard in Long Beach, and that alcohol sales were immediately prohibited.

ABC said its agents opened an investigation following a fatal crash on March 1, 2022 that took the life of a father and his young daughter. The department said agents posted a notice of indefinite suspension after an undercover investigation found that the tavern was operating a disorderly premises involving numerous illegal sales of cocaine, ecstasy (MDMA), oxycodone, and cannabis at the licensed location. ABC added that the Long Beach Police Department had responded to multiple incidents there.

According to ABC, the owner signed an agreement accepting the penalty, and the license had to be transferred within 180 days to a new owner at a new location outside the city of Long Beach. Then-Director Eric Hirata said, “ABC is committed to keeping communities safe. This location had become a disruption to the neighborhood and local community.”

What news reports added

Local and regional outlets covered the action. The Long Beach Post reported that the increased scrutiny came after a patron drove a truck into a nearby apartment shortly after leaving the bar, killing a father and daughter as they slept. ABC7 Los Angeles described the bar as one that “allegedly served” the driver before the crash. NBC Los Angeles and FOX 11 reported the revocation and the drug-sale findings.

It is important to be precise about what ABC said. ABC’s release stated that the crash prompted the investigation, and that the license action was based on the agents’ findings of a disorderly premises involving illegal drug sales. This article does not go beyond those findings, and it does not draw conclusions about the criminal case connected to the crash.

How one tragedy can open a wider investigation

This case illustrates something every licensee should understand: when a serious incident is connected to a licensed business, ABC may look beyond the incident itself. Agents investigating the source of alcohol in a crash may also observe or uncover other violations. In this case, ABC said undercover work revealed repeated illegal drug sales on the premises.

ABC’s TRACE program is one example of how the department investigates alcohol-connected emergencies, typically those involving people under 21 or serious crashes. Our guide, ABC’s TRACE Program Explained, describes what agents look for. Whatever the specific program, the takeaway is the same: a business’s everyday conditions can become the focus of an investigation after one terrible night.

Drug activity and the law

Drug sales on licensed premises are among the most serious problems a business can face. Business and Professions Code section 25601 addresses licensees who keep or permit a disorderly house or place connected to the premises, including a place where people gather for purposes injurious to public health or safety. ABC’s penalty guidelines treat drug-related violations seriously, and revocation is a possible outcome.

Licensees are expected to know what is happening in their businesses. A bar cannot avoid responsibility simply by saying management was unaware of activity that staff, security, or regular guests could see. That is why policies, training, and supervision matter.

Why drug activity raises other risks

Beyond the license, drug activity creates direct dangers for guests and staff. Mixing alcohol with other substances can increase impairment and health risks, and drug dealing can attract violence. Staff should know how to respond if they suspect a guest has taken something or is in medical distress. For situations involving suspected drink spiking, see When a Guest Says They May Have Been Drugged.

Understanding the penalty

ABC described two linked steps. First, agents posted a notice of indefinite suspension, which stopped alcohol sales. Second, under the agreement the owner accepted, the license had to be transferred within 180 days to a new owner at a new location outside Long Beach. That condition meant the license could not continue at that address or anywhere in the city.

Conditions like a geographic restriction reflect concerns about a specific community. When a neighborhood has experienced repeated problems at a location, ABC can seek outcomes designed to end those problems there.

Two staff members checking a parking lot with flashlights at night.

Warning signs of drug activity in a bar

Managers and staff should watch for patterns that may indicate drug activity:

Frequent short visits by the same people, often to restrooms or the parking lot.
Guests or employees exchanging small items or cash discreetly.
Repeated reports from guests or staff about drug offers.
Guests who appear far more impaired than their drink count would suggest.
Paraphernalia found in restrooms or around the premises.
Increased police calls or complaints from neighbors.

Any one of these signs is not proof of anything. But a pattern deserves attention and, where appropriate, a call to law enforcement.

Steps licensees can take

Set and enforce a zero-tolerance policy

Make clear to staff and guests that drug sales or use on the premises are not allowed, and enforce it. ABC’s model house policies offer sample language businesses can adapt.

Supervise restrooms and dark corners

Regular checks of restrooms, patios, and parking areas, along with good lighting and working cameras, discourage illicit activity.

Train security and staff

Security staff should know what to look for, how to respond safely, and when to call police. California’s Bureau of Security and Investigative Services licenses many security roles.

Screen and supervise employees

Employee involvement in drug activity is a serious risk. Clear rules, supervision, and prompt action on concerns protect the business.

Work with police and ABC

Report suspected drug activity, cooperate with investigations, and build a relationship with the local ABC district office. ABC’s IMPACT program, described on its business inspections page, pairs ABC agents with local officers to visit premises and help licensees correct problems.

Responsible service still matters

Although ABC’s action focused on drug sales, responsible alcohol service is part of the broader picture. Section 25602 prohibits selling or furnishing alcohol to an obviously intoxicated person. Watching guests’ condition, counting drinks, and offering alternatives to driving are basic steps that reduce harm.

California’s mandatory Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) training took effect on July 1, 2022, a month before ABC announced this action. ABC’s RBS program page explains the requirement for servers and managers at on-sale premises to train and pass ABC’s exam within 60 days of starting work. The curriculum covers recognizing intoxication and refusing service, skills that also help staff notice when something else is wrong.

Supporting staff who speak up

Employees who see drug activity may worry about retaliation from guests, coworkers, or even management. A business that wants to prevent problems needs to make it safe for staff to report what they see. Clear reporting channels, management follow-through, and protection for employees who raise concerns are essential.

Many employers are also covered by Cal/OSHA’s workplace violence prevention requirements, described on the Department of Industrial Relations website. Those rules require covered employers to assess and address risks, which can include violence connected to illegal activity.

For more on supporting staff through difficult situations, see Handling Intoxicated Guests Without Burning Out.

The community behind the case

It is easy to read a license action as a story about a business. But ABC’s announcement began with a family: a father and his young daughter who died in a crash. News reports described them as asleep in their home when a vehicle struck it. Behind every enforcement action like this one are neighbors, families, and workers whose lives are affected.

That perspective matters for how operators think about compliance. Rules about drug activity, disorderly conditions, and intoxicated guests are not paperwork. They exist because the consequences of ignoring them can be permanent. Keeping that in mind helps managers explain policies to staff in a way that feels meaningful rather than bureaucratic.

Bar owner and staff reviewing a checklist at a daytime meeting.

A monthly self-audit for operators

Problems like the ones ABC described usually develop over time. A short monthly review can help managers catch them early. Consider asking:

What does the incident log show? Look for repeated fights, ejections, medical calls, or reports of drug offers.
How many police calls were there? Note who made them and why, and look for patterns by day or hour.
Have neighbors complained? Track and respond to every complaint.
Are cameras working and covering restrooms’ entrances, exits, and parking areas? Gaps should be fixed promptly.
Is every server and manager RBS-certified or within their 60-day window? Check the roster against the schedule.
Do staff know the drug policy and how to report concerns? Ask them directly.

Writing down the answers and any follow-up actions creates a record that the business is actively managing risk. It also gives owners a clear picture of whether conditions are improving or slipping.

When a location moves

News reports said the same owners operated another location in a neighboring city. ABC’s condition applied to the license involved in this case and its location. Any business, wherever it operates, is subject to the same rules on disorderly premises, drug activity, and responsible service, and the lessons from this case apply equally to every licensed location.

Frequently asked questions

Why did ABC revoke the Bottom’s Up Tavern’s license?

ABC said its undercover investigation found a disorderly premises involving numerous illegal sales of cocaine, MDMA, oxycodone, and cannabis.

What prompted the investigation?

ABC said agents opened it following a fatal crash on March 1, 2022 that killed a father and his young daughter.

Could the license stay in Long Beach?

No. ABC said it had to be transferred within 180 days to a new owner at a new location outside Long Beach.

The bottom line

ABC’s August 2022 action in Long Beach shows how an investigation that begins after a tragedy can uncover serious ongoing problems at a licensed business. Drug sales on the premises led to the loss of the license at that location and in that city. For every operator, the lesson is to know what is happening inside and around the business, act on warning signs, support staff who speak up, and work with law enforcement before conditions reach that point.

Give your staff the skills to spot trouble early

RBS training covers intoxication, refusals, and legal responsibilities. 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

This article is general information, not legal advice.