Type 48 Drink Lids: Preparing for AB 2375’s July 1, 2025 Requirement

Updated November 8, 2026. This article was first written in April 2025, shortly after ABC published guidance on AB 2375’s drink lid requirement for Type 48 bars, which took effect July 1, 2025. It describes the law and guidance at that time. A later ABC advisory about the requirement’s expiration date is noted separately in the “Current context” section near the end. It is general information, not legal advice.

A small lid with a specific purpose

Since July 1, 2024, Type 48 bars and nightclubs in California have been required to offer drug testing devices for sale and post a notice about them. Starting July 1, 2025, they must do one more thing: provide a lid with a customer’s drink on request.

On April 4, 2025, the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) issued an industry advisory on the new requirement, explaining that it is part of ongoing state efforts to protect patrons from being unknowingly drugged or becoming victims of other crimes that often follow. This guide walks Type 48 operators through what the law requires, what ABC’s FAQ clarifies, and how to roll out lids smoothly before July. For the 2024 testing device requirement, see our Type 48 readiness checklist.

What the law requires

Assembly Bill 2375, signed September 27, 2024, added Business and Professions Code section 25625. It applies to applicants for a new permanent Type 48 license and holders of existing Type 48 licenses. ABC’s advisory adds that this includes applicants issued an interim operating permit.

Under section 25625:

• The licensee must, upon request, provide a lid with a customer’s drink.
• A “lid” means a removable cover of any size that attaches to the rim of a beverage.
• The lid does not have to fit every container used on the premises, but it must fit at least one.
• The licensee may charge an additional fee for the lid, which may not exceed a reasonable amount based on wholesale cost, or may offer lids free.
• A violation is not a crime.
• A sole violation of the section, including the notice requirement, results only in a warning from ABC for the first offense.

As enacted, the section was operative July 1, 2025, and scheduled to remain in effect only until January 1, 2027.

The new sign

AB 2375 also changed the notice Type 48 licensees must post. Both section 25625 and the amended section 25624 now require this notice, in a prominent and conspicuous location:

“Don’t get roofied! Drink lids and drink spiking drug test kits available here. Ask a staff member for details.”

ABC’s advisory says the notice must be posted verbatim and that existing signs about drug testing devices must be replaced with the updated wording. ABC offers a printable version of the sign. ABC’s FAQ says “prominent and conspicuous” means the sign must be both clearly visible and readable to patrons in the licensed premises.

What ABC’s FAQ clarifies

ABC’s advisory answers several practical questions:

• Napkins do not count. ABC says a napkin is not a lid; for purposes of the law, a lid is a removable cover that attaches to the rim of a beverage.
• Glassware. Licensees do not need lids that fit all their cups and glassware. If a customer requests a lid, the beverage should be served in a container the lid fits.
• Enforcement. Violations are not criminal offenses but may result in administrative citation against the license.
• Repeal date. ABC noted the law was scheduled to repeal on January 1, 2027, that laws with scheduled repeal dates are often extended, and that licensees should check back closer to that date.

Choosing lids and glassware

Because the lid must fit at least one container, the simplest approach is to pick one cup or glass size that works for most drinks and stock lids that fit it. Practical considerations:

• Choose a versatile container. A clear cup that can hold beer, wine, cocktails, and nonalcoholic drinks makes it easy to transfer any drink when a guest asks for a lid.
• Test the fit. Make sure lids attach securely to the rim. A loose lid defeats the purpose.
• Consider straws. Many lids are designed for straws. Decide whether to provide straws with lidded drinks and how that fits local rules on single-use items.
• Stock enough. Busy nights may bring more requests. Keep extras behind each bar station.
• Set the price. Decide whether to give lids free or charge a small fee within the law’s limit. Many venues may choose free lids to encourage use.

Training staff to respond to lid requests

A lid request should be handled the same way every time, without questions or judgment. A simple procedure:

1. Acknowledge the request: “Of course.”
2. Pour or transfer the drink into the lid-compatible container.
3. Attach the lid securely and hand the drink directly to the guest.
4. Mention the test kits if the guest seems interested: “We also have drink testing kits if you’d like one.”

Staff should never make a guest feel awkward for asking. A guest asking for a lid is doing exactly what the sign invites.

Include the lid procedure in onboarding for every new bartender, barback, and server, and refresh it at preshift meetings during the first weeks after July 1. Consistency across shifts matters more than any single training session.

Lids are one layer of protection

Lids help guests keep their drinks covered, but they do not replace staff attention. Bartenders and servers should still:

• Watch for drinks left unattended and offer to replace them.
• Notice guests who seem suddenly far more impaired than their drink count suggests.
• Take reports of suspected drink spiking seriously and involve a manager immediately.
• Stop alcohol service to anyone obviously intoxicated, as required by section 25602.

Our drink spiking response article covers recognizing and responding to suspected spiking, and our AB 2402 article explains how RBS training content is changing.

Keeping testing devices current

AB 2375 kept the existing testing device rules in section 25624. Type 48 licensees must offer drug testing devices for sale at a cost not exceeding a reasonable amount based on wholesale cost, may offer them free, and must ensure devices offered have not exceeded their expiration date or recommended period of use. Section 25624 also says a Type 48 licensee is not liable for a defective test or inaccurate result. Since July is a good time to review the whole program, check device expiration dates when you set up lids.

Managing supply and cost

Lids are inexpensive, but running out on a Saturday night creates a compliance gap. Assign lid inventory to the same person who orders cups and straws, set a reorder point, and count lids during weekly inventory. If you charge for lids, ring them up consistently using a dedicated button in the point-of-sale system, and keep the price tied to wholesale cost so it stays within the law’s “reasonable amount” limit. If you give lids away, track how many you use each month to plan orders. Either way, keeping lids at every service point, including satellite bars and patio stations, prevents guests from being told to walk to another bar.

Communicating beyond the sign

The required notice tells guests lids are available, but staff can reinforce the message. Some venues may add a line to drink menus, mention lids when guests order at a crowded bar, or have door staff point out the sign. Communication should be matter-of-fact, not alarming. The goal is to make asking for a lid feel as ordinary as asking for a glass of water. Guests who see staff offering lids comfortably are more likely to ask for help if something feels wrong.

A monthly self-audit

A quick monthly check keeps the program on track:

• Is the updated sign posted, visible, and readable from where patrons stand?
• Are lids stocked at every bar and service station?
• Do the lids still fit the designated cup? Supplier changes can alter sizes.
• Are testing devices within their expiration dates?
• Have new hires been trained on the lid procedure?

Record the date and results. If ABC ever asks, a simple log shows the venue takes the requirement seriously.

A rollout plan for the months before July

• April: Read ABC’s advisory, choose a lid-compatible container, and order lids.
• May: Test lid fit, decide on pricing, and print the updated sign from ABC.
• June: Train staff at preshift meetings, stock lids at every station, and post the new sign in a clearly visible, readable location, replacing the old one.
• July 1: Confirm lids and signs are in place at opening.

A scenario at a downtown nightclub

A nightclub manager orders lids that fit the club’s standard clear plastic cup and stocks them at each bar. The old testing device sign is replaced with ABC’s new printable version near the main bar, where it is visible and readable. At preshift, bartenders practice transferring a cocktail from a glass to the lidded cup. On the first Saturday in July, a guest asks for a lid; the bartender transfers the drink, snaps on the lid, and mentions the test kits, without any fuss.

Finally, ask staff for feedback after the first few weekends. Bartenders often spot practical problems, such as lids that crack or cups that stack poorly, before managers do, and small adjustments keep the program running smoothly.

Frequently asked questions

Do lids have to fit every glass?

No. The lid must fit at least one container, and ABC says lidded drinks should be served in a container the lid fits.

Can I charge for lids?

Yes, but the fee may not exceed a reasonable amount based on wholesale cost. Free lids are allowed.

Do I need a new sign?

Yes. ABC says existing testing device signs must be replaced with the updated wording.

Current context as of November 8, 2026

AB 2375 originally scheduled the lid and testing device requirements to end January 1, 2027. On October 9, 2026, ABC issued an advisory stating the drug testing device and drink lid availability requirements have been extended indefinitely. Type 48 licensees should keep lids, testing devices, and the required sign in place and review ABC’s current guidance for details.

The bottom line

A lid is a small, inexpensive way to help guests protect their drinks. Pick a compatible cup, post the updated sign, train staff to respond without hesitation, and keep watching for guests who need help.

Sources

1. ABC: Type 48 Signage and Product Requirements Take Effect July 1, 2025 (Apr. 4, 2025)
2. AB 2375 (2024), BPC 25624 and 25625
3. ABC: Type 48 Requirements Extended Indefinitely (Oct. 9, 2026, current note)
4. California BPC 25602

This article is general information, not legal advice.