Los Angeles County Municipal Code Ch. 11.19 Alcoholic Beverage Warning Signs

The Surgeon General of the United States has recommended that women who are pregnant, or considering pregnancy, be advised not to drink alcoholic beverages and to be aware of the alcohol content in anything they eat because alcohol consumption during pregnancy, especially in the early months, can harm the fetus. In order to serve the public health, safety and welfare, the purpose of the ordinance codified in this chapter is to educate the public by requiring that warning signs be placed at all locations where alcoholic beverages are sold to the public.

(Ord. 86-0169 § 1 (part), 1986.)

Any person or entity who owns, operates, manages, leases or rents a premises offering wine, beer or other alcoholic beverages for sale, or dispensing for consideration to the public, shall cause a sign or notices to be posted or displayed on the premises as provided in this section. The sign or notice shall read substantially as follows: WARNING. DRINKING WINE, BEER AND OTHER ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES DURING PREGNANCY CAN CAUSE BIRTH DEFECTS. Except as specified in Section 11.19.030 C, a sign as required herein shall not be smaller than 10 inches wide by 10 inches long, nor shall any lettering thereon be less than one inch in height.

(Ord. 86-0169 § 1 (part), 1986.)

A sign or notice required by Section 11.19.020 shall be placed as follows:

A.

Where the sale or dispensing of wine, beer or other alcoholic beverages to the public is primarily intended for consumption off the premises, at least one sign shall be so placed to assure that it is readable from all locations at which said sale or dispensing occurs;

B.

Where the sale of wine, beer or other alcoholic beverages to the public is primarily provided through over-the-counter service, at least one sign shall be placed to assure that it is readable from all counter locations available to the public;

C.

Where the sale or dispensing of wine, beer or other alcoholic beverages to the public is primarily provided for consumption on the premises by the public at tables served by food or beverage service persons, at least one sign shall be placed to assure it is readable by the public entering the premises. In the alternative, signs or notices smaller than 10 inches wide by 10 inches long may be displayed at each of the tables provided that the notices are as readily visible and readable as materials provided to the public which list food and beverage prices.

(Ord. 86-0169 § 1 (part), 1986.)

In the event a substantial number of the public patronizing a premises offering for sale or dispensing wine, beer or other alcoholic beverages uses a language other than English as a primary language, any sign or notice required by Section 11.19.030 of this chapter shall be worded in both English and the primary language or languages involved.

(Ord. 86-0169 § 1 (part), 1986.)