Updated November 8, 2026. This article was written for the 2023 Independence Day weekend and reviewed as of this update. Figures are those cited by ABC on June 30, 2023. It is general information, not legal advice.
A holiday that stretches across five days
In 2023, the Fourth of July lands on a Tuesday. For many Californians, that turns the holiday into a long weekend that starts Friday evening and runs through Tuesday night, with a “bridge” Monday that many people take off. For bars, restaurants, stores, and event venues, that means five days of holiday-level business instead of one.
On June 30, 2023, the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) issued a release titled “ABC Advocates for a Safe and Responsible Independence Day.” “If you choose to celebrate with alcohol, make sure to designate a sober driver or arrange a ride with an app or taxi service,” said ABC Director Eric Hirata. “We can all do our part to keep communities safe by preventing drinking and driving.”
This guide focuses on the challenge of a long holiday: sustaining careful service over several days, when staff are tired, crowds are unpredictable, and the busiest night may not be the Fourth itself.
What ABC and CHP said
ABC’s release said licensees can help keep the public safe by checking IDs and not serving obviously intoxicated patrons. ABC suggested that licensees offer nonalcoholic drinks for designated sober drivers, monitor who is drinking alcohol, and check on how people who have been drinking are getting home, offering alternate transportation if needed.
The release also described the California Highway Patrol’s Maximum Enforcement Period (MEP), which ABC said would begin at 6:01 p.m. on Friday, June 30, and run through late Tuesday night, July 4. ABC reported that 44 people were killed in crashes on California roadways during the 2022 Independence Day MEP and that CHP made 998 arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. ABC also cited an average cost of about $13,500 for a first-time DUI arrest, including impound fees, fines, attorney fees, and insurance increases.
For comparison with the year before, see our article on ABC’s 2022 Fourth of July reminder.
Plan the whole weekend, not just the Fourth
Friday: the kickoff
The first night of a long weekend often brings a rush of guests starting their vacation. Expect after-work crowds and groups heading out of town who may stop for a drink before driving. That last group needs particular attention.
Saturday and Sunday: steady volume
Weekend days bring barbecues, pool parties, and day drinking. Restaurants near beaches, lakes, and parks may see guests arriving after hours in the sun. Watch for dehydration and guests who have been drinking elsewhere.
Monday: the bridge day
Monday is unpredictable. Some businesses see a normal workday crowd; others see a second Saturday. Schedule based on last year’s sales if you have them, and keep a manager on call.
Tuesday: the Fourth
The holiday itself brings fireworks shows, parades, and family gatherings. Many guests will leave at the same time after the fireworks, which concentrates the risk of impaired driving into a short window. Plan to slow service well before the show ends.
Staff fatigue is a safety issue
Five busy days in a row wear people down. A server working a double on Sunday and an opening shift on Monday is less likely to notice a borrowed ID or a guest’s slurred speech. Managers can help:
- Spread holiday shifts across the team rather than relying on a few people.
- Avoid back-to-back doubles.
- Bring in experienced staff for the heaviest nights.
- Hold a short huddle each day to review the plan and any problems from the day before.
- Back up staff who refuse service.
For more on the toll of difficult shifts, see Handling Intoxicated Guests Without Burning Out.
The basics, every day
- Business and Professions Code section 25658 prohibits furnishing alcohol to anyone under 21. Holiday crowds include many college students and young adults home for summer.
- Section 25602 prohibits serving an obviously intoxicated person.
- On-sale servers and managers must hold Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) certification, or be within 60 days of hire, as described on ABC’s RBS program page.
Designated drivers and rides home
ABC’s suggestions translate into simple practices:
- Ask groups who is driving, and offer that person free or discounted nonalcoholic drinks.
- Keep track of who is drinking at each table.
- As guests leave, ask how they are getting home.
- Have rideshare and taxi information ready, and offer to call a car.
- Involve a manager if a visibly impaired guest insists on driving.
Mentioning the CHP enforcement period and the cost of a DUI can be a persuasive, nonjudgmental way to encourage a guest to leave the car.
Off-sale stores: the stock-up rush
Grocery, convenience, and liquor stores often see their biggest sales in the days before the Fourth. Clerks should:
- Check ID for every customer who appears under the store’s threshold.
- Watch for adults buying for minors waiting outside or in a car.
- Refuse sales to customers who appear obviously intoxicated.
- Make sure self-checkout requires staff approval for alcohol.
Events and fireworks viewing
Many venues host viewing parties or operate at community events. Outdoor service brings extra risks: drinks leaving the licensed area, minors mixing with adults, and large crowds exiting at once. Mark boundaries clearly, check IDs at entry and at the bar, and stop service before the fireworks end so guests have time before they drive. For more, see RBS Training for Temporary Event Staff.
Heat and day drinking
Early July can be hot in much of California. Heat and alcohol together raise the risk of dehydration and make intoxication harder to judge. Keep water free and visible, offer shade on patios, and watch guests who have been outside all day. A guest who seemed fine at noon may be in trouble by late afternoon.
Keeping records over a long weekend
With five days of busy service, details blur quickly. Keep an incident log for refusals, refused IDs, disturbances, and calls for rides or police. Review it each morning so the next shift knows about any problem guests or patterns. ABC’s model house policies include a sample incident log.
Promotions that fit a long weekend
Holiday specials are part of the fun, but a five-day weekend multiplies the effect of any promotion that encourages heavy drinking. Avoid unlimited drink offers, drinking contests, and specials tied to how fast guests can finish. ABC’s model house policies recommend promoting food and nonalcoholic options alongside any featured drink. Practical ideas include:
- A holiday food special, such as a barbecue plate or shareable platter.
- A featured red, white, and blue mocktail priced fairly.
- Free soft drinks for the designated driver at each table.
- Live music or a viewing area that gives guests something to do besides drink.
For more ideas, see Responsible Bar Promotions in California.
Families and minors
The Fourth is a family holiday, and many restaurants will host multigenerational tables. Teenagers and young adults home from college are common. Place every drink in front of the adult who ordered it, check ID for anyone who will be drinking and appears under the house threshold, and step in politely if a drink is being passed to someone under 21. A nonalcoholic option for toasts makes those moments easier.
A pre-weekend checklist
- Confirm the schedule for all five days, with no back-to-back doubles where possible.
- Verify RBS status for everyone working, including seasonal hires.
- Stock enough food, water, and nonalcoholic drinks for the full weekend.
- Post rideshare and taxi information at the bar and exits.
- Review your promotions against ABC rules and house policy.
- Brief staff on CHP’s enforcement period and the plan for slowing service before the fireworks.
- Set up a fresh page in the incident log for each day.
After the weekend
When the holiday ends, take a few minutes with the team to review what happened. Which nights were busiest? Were there any close calls with IDs or intoxicated guests? Did staffing hold up? Notes from this year make next year’s plan easier, and the lessons apply to other long weekends such as Labor Day.
Waterfront and park-adjacent venues
Restaurants and stores near lakes, beaches, and parks see a different holiday crowd: guests arriving after hours in the sun, groups stocking up for the day, and visitors who may be boating or driving a long way home. Keep water free and visible, ask groups who is driving or operating a boat, and remind staff that a guest who has been outdoors all day may show intoxication sooner. Treat any guest operating a boat the same way you would a driver. If your patio is still operating under a temporary authorization, see our guide to patio season and COVID-era authorizations for the rules that apply outdoors.
Clear communication with guests also helps. A short sign at the host stand reminding guests about the holiday enforcement period and offering to call a ride normalizes the conversation before anyone has had too much.
Finally, remember that the holiday does not end at midnight on the Fourth. Many guests travel home on Wednesday morning, and some will have been celebrating late. Opening staff should stay alert as well.
Frequently asked questions
When does CHP’s holiday enforcement period run in 2023?
According to ABC, from 6:01 p.m. Friday, June 30, through late Tuesday night, July 4.
What does ABC suggest licensees do?
Check IDs, avoid serving obviously intoxicated patrons, offer nonalcoholic drinks to designated drivers, monitor drinking, and help guests find a safe ride.
How much does a first-time DUI cost?
ABC cited an average of about $13,500.
Talking with guests about the drive home
Many servers find it awkward to ask how guests are getting home. Over a holiday weekend, a friendly, routine question removes the awkwardness: “Are you all set for a ride tonight? Traffic enforcement is heavy this weekend.” Asked early, it gives groups time to choose a driver or plan a rideshare before anyone has had too much. Asked again near the end of the night, it opens the door for a manager to help if needed.
The bottom line
A Tuesday Fourth of July turns one holiday into a five-day stretch. Planning each day, protecting staff from fatigue, keeping ID checks sharp, and helping every guest find a safe ride home lets businesses enjoy the long weekend without adding to the holiday’s crash statistics.
Staff the Long Weekend With Confidence
Holiday shifts bring seasonal hires. ServeTrain’s ABC-approved online RBS course helps California servers and managers certify fast. 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
- ABC: Advocates for a Safe and Responsible Independence Day (June 30, 2023)
- California BPC 25658
- California BPC 25602
- ABC: Model House Policies
- ABC: Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) Program
This article is general information, not legal advice.
