Updated November 8, 2026. Requirements and sources were reviewed as of this update. Earlier versions of this article described TRACE in general terms; this version is based on the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control’s published program information and news releases.
What TRACE is
TRACE stands for Target Responsibility for Alcohol-Connected Emergencies. It is a protocol run by the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) to find out where the alcohol came from when drinking leads to a serious emergency. ABC’s TRACE program page describes it as a protocol in which first responders to alcohol-related emergencies immediately notify ABC when an incident involves:
- a person under 21 and alcohol, resulting in great bodily injury or death; or
- a person over 21 and alcohol received from a licensed premises, resulting in vehicular manslaughter, great bodily injury, or death.
When ABC is notified, its agents conduct an investigation alongside the first responders’ work to determine where the alcoholic beverages were acquired, purchased, served, or consumed. ABC’s TRACE guide notes that in cases involving adults, an investigation will be conducted to determine whether the driver was obviously intoxicated when they purchased or consumed alcohol at a licensed premises.
For bars, restaurants, and stores, the key point is simple. If a TRACE investigation finds that a licensed business sold or furnished alcohol that contributed to the emergency, ABC says administrative action can be filed against the license, and criminal charges can be filed against the person who sold or furnished the alcohol.
How TRACE began
ABC’s TRACE page explains that the protocol was created in the spring of 2004. It grew out of the death of Casey Goodwin, a college student from Exeter, who was killed in a head-on crash caused by an 18-year-old drunk driver. Her mother, Lynne Goodwin, recognized that while the driver had been prosecuted, nobody had investigated who sold or provided the alcohol. Her questions brought together a group of agencies to build a better approach.
According to ABC, the TRACE Protocol was developed by ABC, the Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), the California Attorney General’s Office, the California Highway Patrol, the California Police Chiefs Association, and the California State Sheriffs’ Association. ABC established its TRACE Unit as a standalone bureau in May 2006. The program has been supported by OTS grant funding, which ABC’s news releases describe as coming through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
What investigators look for
ABC’s TRACE page lists the kinds of evidence agents watch for when tracing the source of alcohol, including surveillance video, false identification, receipts, bags, labels, and witness statements. ABC emphasizes that timely notification greatly improves the chance of a successful investigation, which is why first responders report incidents right away through a TRACE web app or a 24-hour hotline.
For licensees, that list is a reminder of what evidence exists in an ordinary night of business. Receipts and point-of-sale records show what was sold and when. Security cameras show who was served. Staff memories of a conversation at the register or the bar can become witness statements. Good practices create a record that shows responsible service; careless practices create a record that shows the opposite.
Real cases show the stakes
ABC has publicized several TRACE cases that illustrate how investigations can lead to license discipline. In October 2023, ABC announced a 45-day suspension of Beverage House Liquor in Vista after finding that an employee sold distilled spirits twice to a 20-year-old without checking ID on March 22, 2022. According to ABC, the minor shared the alcohol with underage friends, and one of them later drove under the influence and caused a fatal crash. We cover that case in detail in our article on the Vista TRACE case and what it teaches about checking IDs.
In another case, ABC announced a 30-day suspension of a Chula Vista restaurant, Las Tres Catrinas, after a TRACE investigation found that servers repeatedly served alcohol to a 20-year-old patron without checking his ID. According to ABC’s announcement, the patron died in a single-vehicle crash after leaving the restaurant. The business settled the action and agreed to the suspension, with a one-year revocation stayed.
These cases are summarized here from ABC’s public announcements. They show that TRACE investigations can reach back many months to an ordinary sale, and that the outcome often turns on a basic step: checking identification.
ABC reported in an Alcohol Awareness Month update that it completed 103 TRACE investigations between 2023 and 2024.
The laws behind TRACE cases
TRACE is an investigation protocol, not a separate set of rules. The violations it uncovers come from existing law. Business and Professions Code section 25658, published on the Legislature’s official code website, prohibits selling or furnishing alcohol to anyone under 21. Section 25602 makes it a misdemeanor to sell or furnish alcohol to an obviously intoxicated person.
ABC’s disciplinary guidelines set standard penalties that serve as a starting point in ordinary cases. For example, a licensee’s first sale to a minor carries a standard 15-day suspension, and serving an obviously intoxicated person carries a 15-day suspension. Cases involving serious injury or death may be treated more severely, as the Vista and Chula Vista outcomes show.
What an investigation can look like for a business
From a licensee’s point of view, a TRACE investigation may begin weeks or months after an ordinary shift. Agents may ask for surveillance footage from a particular date, receipts or point-of-sale data, and the names of employees who were working. They may interview staff about what they remember. ABC’s TRACE materials note that evidence such as receipts, bags, and labels can point investigators toward a specific store or bar, so a business may not know it is involved until agents arrive.
That timeline is a good reason to have clear procedures in place now. Managers should know how long security video is kept, how to export it, and who is responsible for responding to official requests. Staff schedules and training records should be easy to find. Businesses should also know how to reach their attorney and insurer quickly if they learn they are part of an investigation.
Reducing your risk
No business can eliminate every risk, but a few practices make a real difference.
Check every ID that needs checking
Both cases above turned on a failure to check identification. A house policy that requires ID from anyone who appears under 30, as suggested in ABC’s Model House Policies, removes guesswork. Our guide to common ID-checking mistakes and the FLAG method covers how to inspect an ID.
Watch for intoxication and refuse when needed
TRACE investigations involving adults look at whether a driver was obviously intoxicated when served. Train staff to recognize signs of intoxication, slow service early, and refuse service when needed, with managers backing them up.
Watch for third-party purchases
Some underage drinking starts with an adult buying for a minor. Staff should watch for signs that a purchase is meant for someone else, such as a group waiting outside or a buyer who checks with a younger person before paying.
Train your team
Since July 1, 2022, California has required on-premises alcohol servers and their managers to hold Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) certification, as ABC’s RBS program page explains. Off-sale businesses such as liquor and convenience stores can use ABC’s free LEAD training, which covers checking identification and preventing sales to minors and obviously intoxicated people.
Keep good records
Training records, incident logs, and clear house policies help show that a business takes responsible service seriously. ABC’s guidelines list documented training of a licensee and employees among the mitigating factors that may be considered in discipline. Our guide to RBS training records and liquor liability explains what to keep on file.
Cooperate with investigators
If ABC agents or local law enforcement contact your business about an incident, cooperate and consult an attorney as appropriate. Preserve relevant video and records rather than allowing them to be overwritten.
Building a TRACE-ready house policy
A written house policy turns good intentions into consistent practice. ABC’s Model House Policies offer a framework that licensees can adapt. A policy focused on preventing TRACE-type incidents might include:
- A clear ID-checking rule, with a posted notice explaining it to guests.
- A list of acceptable identification and a requirement to inspect it carefully.
- Steps for refusing service and for alerting coworkers when a guest has been cut off.
- Instructions for handling suspected purchases for minors.
- A requirement to record serious incidents in an incident log.
- Procedures for preserving video and records when an incident is reported.
- A commitment that management will support staff who refuse a sale.
Review the policy with every new hire, revisit it at staff meetings, and update it when laws or ABC guidance change.
Why TRACE matters beyond enforcement
TRACE exists because families wanted answers about where the alcohol came from. ABC Director Joseph McCullough described the program in ABC’s Alcohol Awareness Month update as a crucial tool aimed at combating youth access to alcohol while holding those who buy alcohol for minors accountable. For licensees, the best response is to make sure their own sales never become part of that story.
Licensees who want a second look at their practices can also ask their local ABC district office about education resources, or schedule an informational inspection where available.
Frequently asked questions
Does TRACE apply only to car crashes? No. TRACE covers incidents involving a person under 21 and alcohol that result in great bodily injury or death, as well as certain incidents involving adults and alcohol from a licensed premises.
Who reports TRACE incidents? First responders and law enforcement notify ABC through the TRACE web app or hotline.
Can a TRACE investigation lead to criminal charges? ABC says criminal charges can be filed against the person who sold or furnished the alcohol, in addition to administrative action against the license.
Should we keep security video longer because of TRACE? Many businesses review their video retention settings so footage is not overwritten too quickly. Ask your attorney or insurer what retention period makes sense for your business, and make sure managers know how to export footage when an official request arrives.
The bottom line
TRACE connects serious alcohol-related emergencies to the place where the alcohol was obtained. For California licensees, the protection is the same as always: check IDs, refuse service to obviously intoxicated guests, train staff, and keep good records.
Prepare your staff to prevent alcohol-connected emergencies
Checking IDs and recognizing intoxication are core RBS skills. ServeTrain’s RBS course helps California servers and managers prepare for ABC’s certification 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, TRACE Program
- California ABC, ABC Suspends Chula Vista Restaurant for Serving Alcohol to an Underage Patron
- California ABC, April Is Alcohol Awareness Month: Spotlight on TRACE (Apr. 23, 2025)
- California Legislature, Business and Professions Code, Division 9, Chapter 16, Article 3
- California ABC, Penalty Guidelines
- California ABC, Model House Policies
- California ABC, Responsible Beverage Service Training Program
- California ABC, LEAD Training
This article is general information, not legal advice.
