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Inventory of the Dept. of Alcoholic Beverage Control
F3718.1-374c
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Title: Dept. of Alcoholic Beverage Control Records
Inventory: F3718.1-374c
Creator:
Dept. of Alcoholic Beverage Control.
Collection Size:
14 Cubic Feet
3 Items
Repository:
California State Archives
Sacramento, California
Abstract: The Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) was created by Constitutional Amendment (Statutes of 1954, 1st. Ex. Sess.,
chapter 20, p. 274. Effective July 1, 1954, operative Jan. 1, 1955; Constitution Article XX, Section 22, as amended November
2, 1954) taking over the functions of liquor licensing and compliance which were formerly under the jurisdiction of the State
Board of Equalization. The Governor appoints the Director of the Department, subject to confirmation by the State Senate.
The Alcoholic Beverage Control records consist of 14 cubic feet of records and 3 photographs. They document the department's
work to control and regulate the manufacture, importation, advertisement, licensing, and sale of alcoholic beverages.
Physical location: California State Archives
Language:
English.
While the majority of the records are open for research, any access restrictions are noted in the record series descriptions.
For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the California State Archives. Permission for reproduction or publication
is given on behalf of the California State Archives as the owner of the physical items. The researcher assumes all responsibility
for possible infringement which may arise from reproduction or publication of materials from the California State Archives
collections.
[Identification of item], Dept. of Alcoholic Beverage Control Records, F3718.1-375c, California State Archives.
From 1933 until 1955, the State Board of Equalizations Alcoholic Beverage Control Division was the overseer of the licensing
and regulation of the liquor industry (Const. Art. XX, Section 22, as amended Nov. 8, 1932. Effective Dec. 19, 1932). When
an amendment to the Volstead Act, the federal legislation implementing the prohibition of liquor, permitted the return of
3.2 beer, the California legislature provided for the licensing of manufacturers and importors of the beverage (
Stats. 1933, ch. 178, p. 626. Effective April 27, 1933). Another act passed in the same session established a more comprehensive
licensing system in anticipation of the repeal of Prohibition (
Stats. 1933, ch. 658, p. 1697. Effective upon repeal of Prohibition [Dec. 5, 1933]). The Board's exclusive powers to license the
manufacture, importation and sale of intoxicating beverage in the State were by Constitutional Amendment (Const. Art. XX,
Section 22, as amended Nov. 6, 1934).
The Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control was created by Constitutional Amendment (
Stats. 1954, 1st. Ex. Sess., ch. 20, p. 274. Effective July 1, 1954, operative Jan. 1, 1955; Const. Art. XX, Section 22, as amended
Nov. 2, 1954) taking over the functions of liquor licensing and compliance which were formerly under the jurisdiction of the
State Board of Equalization. The Governor appoints the Director of the Department, subject to confirmation by the State Senate.
Liquor control in the State is provided by the Department through the licensing and regulation of the manufacture, importation,
and sale of alcoholic beverages. The Department investigates proposed licensed premises and the area surrounding it; investigates
license applicants' background and record; determines the true ownership of the proposed licensed premises and collects license
fees. The compliance function entails the detection, investigation and prevention of violations under the Alcoholic Beverage
Control Act. The department directs major attention toward prevention of sales to minors and intoxicated persons, elimination
of police problems and disorderly premises, advertising practices and fair trade practices. The Department maintains close
relationships with local police departments and other regulatory agencies.
The Alcoholic Beverage Control records consist of 14 cubic feet of records and 3 photographs. They document the department's
work to control and regulate the manufacture, importation, advertisement, licensing, and sale of alcoholic beverages. The
records are arranged into 6 series consisting of correspondence with the general public, correspondence with area, district
and branch offices, and correspondence with other California state agencies, documentation on alcohol advertising practices,
subject files, and photographs. Of particular interest in the subject files may be material concerning the reinstatement of
licenses confiscated from persons of Japanese ancestry during World War II. This agency is still active and future accruals
are expected.
Many records of the Board of Equalizations Alcoholic Beverage Control Division are included in this record group because the
Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control made them part of their records. The records of the two agencies are difficult to
separate without fragmenting the records and destroying their integrity.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the archive's online public access catalog.
Alcohol -- Law and legislation
Alcoholic beverage industry
Related Collections at the California State Archives
Information of the review of the Alcoholic Beverage Control department's decisions involving the revocation, suspension or
denial of licenses can by found in the separate but related agency, Alcoholic Beverage Control Appeals Board Records, F3718.376-464a.