How Cities Can Influence Cut-offs at Existing Businesses
Gregg Hanour
(Part of the “Drunk, Drunker, and High-Risk Drunkenness” series)
Recap of Prior Insight
- For every $1 a city spends to reduce intoxication, it saves $260 (Levy & Miller)
- At every step in the process of evaluating and conditioning new alcohol businesses, the city should deliver a consistent message: “Your business future depends upon not serving obviously intoxicated customers.”
- A key condition of approval requires the business to maintain a cut-off log, available for inspection by law enforcement or code enforcement.
- The Best Practices for Nightlife Establishments booklet is a ready reference for city planners, commissioners, and enforcement officers when working with new, existing, or disorderly/otherwise noncompliant businesses.
- Written talking points for city officials connect the city’s conditions of approval to specific alcohol best practices, which improve business viability, protect city resources, and guard public safety.
Short on time? Skip to the recap below!
Introduction
In our last Insight, we explained how cities can guide new alcohol businesses towards responsible alcohol management and making cut-offs happen.
Today’s post focuses on how cities can help existing businesses, especially those with long-standing bad habits, to responsibly manage their business and increase their cut-offs of obviously intoxicated customers.
REDUCING INTOXICATION AT EXISTING BUSINESSES
Nearly all chronic problems with nightlife venues—violence, sexual assaults, neighborhood complaints, and excessive DUIs—can be mitigated by reducing overconsumption, i.e., cutting off customers. Other issues, such as gang activity, drug sales, or nuisances, require different solutions and will be the focus of a future post.
Below are the three steps you can take to influence responsible behavior by your existing businesses. To keep costs down, start with the one or two establishments that are causing the most problems. These are usually your high-volume, late-night venues.
Step 1: Prepare to meet with the business
- Review the business’s record of calls for service.
- Consult code enforcement about the business’s compliance and any complaints from neighbors.
- Have law enforcement meet with the ABC district office to review the licensee’s file, which includes information on the applicant, the premises (planned operation/diagram), police reports, and any disciplinary matters.
- Review the business’s conditional use permit and entertainment permit, if applicable.
- Examine the venue’s online presence for risky promotions, images of intoxication, or gang symbolism.
- Review your Best Practices for Nightlife Establishments booklet. Pinpoint the specific best practices that will help resolve the problems exhibited by the business.
- Develop your written talking points from the bulleted list under Step 2, below.
Step 2: Meet with the business
Include ownership, as appropriate, management, and the security lead.
During the meeting, discuss the following:
- The mutual goal is to reduce problems, protect public safety, and make the business more viable.
- Your key business performance concerns
- The fact that most calls for service relate to over-intoxication
- Any risky drink promotions or marketing tactics
- Security Best Practices can help mitigate problems.
- A gatekeeper mindset at the entrance to prevent those people who are already intoxicated or behaving unruly from entering.
- A policy of banning violent or habitually drunk customers
- Early, friendly engagement with customers who are behaving in a concerning manner. Do not wait until the customer gets more unruly and more intoxicated.
- Since most business problems stem from intoxicated patrons, focus on the best practices that reduce drunkenness.
- Eliminate overpouring of spirits by following profitable pouring practices, which reduce intoxication and related issues while increasing profits.
- Cut off obviously intoxicated customers.
- Ask:
- How many customers are typically cut off on a busy night?
- Are cut-offs documented?
- Does management review cut-off logs to ensure cut-offs are done regularly?
- Does the business want law enforcement officers to review logs to ensure cut-offs are occurring?
- A cut-off specialist that the staff can turn to do cut-offs; someone who has the people and temperament skills to manage the responsibilities. When staff can turn to others to perform cut-offs, the cut-offs skyrocket.
- Review the other practices shared under "Ten Best Practices to Reduce Overconsumption" in the Best Practices for Nightlife Establishments booklet.
- Serving obviously intoxicated customers is illegal and enforceable by ABC and local law enforcement.
- Enhanced bar checks (EBCs) raise staff awareness about cutting off intoxicated customers.
- Ultimately, the business needs to benefit all stakeholders. Otherwise, the city will be required to pursue remedial actions.
Before ending the meeting, schedule a follow-up in 30–45 days to review progress.
Step 3: Conduct enhanced bar checks
An enhanced bar check (EBC) involves a team of law enforcement officers walking through a licensed premises with the establishment’s manager on duty. Unlike a typical bar check, which is enforcement-oriented and has no specific focus, an EBC is prevention and education-oriented, focusing on spotting overserved customers.
EBCs help management and staff to stay in compliance with the law against serving alcohol to obviously intoxicated customers. EBCs should significantly reduce the number of customers who reach high-risk levels of intoxication, .15 percent BAC or higher.
Typical EBC sequence:
- Upon arrival, officers request to speak with the manager on duty
- Explain the purpose of the visit: to check for overserved customers and support responsible service.
- Conduct a walk-through with the manager, looking for:
- Intoxicated customers who are being served
- Presence of obviously intoxicated individuals
- After the walk-through, officers review the cut-off log, if your city requires cut-off logs.
- Is it being maintained?
- Are incidents accurately logged?
- Share observations and positive feedback with management.
- Remind management that repeated overserving could lead to undercover investigations by ABC or local law enforcement.
- Reference any known examples of ABC violations for overservice.
- Thank the manager for cooperating with law enforcement.
After a few EBCs, most managers begin conducting self-checks, walking through their venue proactively, to identify intoxicated patrons.
Naturally, EBCs have more impact when businesses know that laws against overserving are actively enforced.
As improvements take hold, extend this process to other high-risk venues (e.g., high volume, late night).
FINAL RECAP
- Chronic alcohol-related problems, such as violence, DUIs, and neighborhood disruption, are largely preventable by reducing overconsumption.
- There are three proactive steps cities can take to effectively change the behavior of existing businesses, especially those with long-standing bad habits.
Step 1: Prepare to meet with the business by obtaining performance data and developing your written talking points.
Step 2: Meet with the business to share performance data. Connect any issues to proven solutions. Emphasize the link between intoxication and calls for service. Review the ten "Best Practices to Reduce Overconsumption" in the Best Practices for Nightlife Establishments Booklet. Recommend and review cut-off logs to encourage accountability. Schedule a follow-up in 30-45 days to review progress.
Step 3: Use enhanced bar checks to reinforce the city’s expectations, build trust, and strengthen partnerships. Where possible, reference case examples of enforcement to underscore accountability.
- As improvements take hold, extend this 3-step process to other high-risk venues in the city.
Coming Up In This Series
- Information Siloing
- Business Best Practices to Reduce High-Risk Intoxication (Part 1)
- Business Best Practices to Reduce High-Risk Intoxication (Part 2)
- Press Release from Governor Newsom (imagined)
That's the decision . . .
In our last blog we discussed how the overconsumption of alcohol is the enemy, not the moderate consumption of alcohol. Moderate Drinkers are Safer Multiple research studies have shown that people who consume alcohol and keep their BAC to below .06% are safer. “There is agreement in the scientific community about what defines ‘moderate drinking.’ Also, moderate drinking means limiting how fast you drink and, as a result, keeping your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) below .055.” (Source: Hester) In general, those who drink excessively are more aggressive and also get injured more seriously than those who drink moderately or not at all. Moderate drinkers do not appear to be at significantly higher risk of injury than nondrinkers. (Source: Scott and Dedel) The Higher the BAC, the Greater the Risk of Harm Alcohol follows a dose-response curve— higher BAC leads to higher risk across all major harms, including crashes, injuries, and violence. Harm rises exponentially as demonstrated by this chart from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on the risk of crashing at given BAC levels.
The Root Cause: Overconsumption of Alcohol T he main purpose of CUP conditions for your on-sale alcohol businesses is to lessen any negative impacts and ensure the operation is in harmony with your community Most problems caused by your bars and restaurants are the direct result of the overconsumption of alcohol—including altercations, nuisance complaints from neighbors, and vehicle crashes. Cities that have calculated the net effect of alcohol businesses on their general fund have discovered a minimum net loss of $1 million dollars—caused mainly by calls for service due to violence and medical problems from overservice. The insurance industry says that 90% of insurance claims at bars and restaurants are the direct result of the overconsumption of alcohol. My experience as an operator and consultant to the hospitality industry suggest that 90% of the time, calls for service are due to one or more customers having consumed too much alcohol. Studies confirm the relationship between higher levels of intoxication and violence. Using Logic to Choose an Action to Solve the Problems Since the goal of writing conditions of approval is to lessen problem . . . And since most problems stem from the overconsumption of alcohol . . . Shouldn’t the conditions aim to lessen overconsumption? In fact, shouldn’t a major focus of your entire approval process—from approving, conditioning, and onboarding—be to message best practices to lessen overconsumption? In reducing the overconsumption of alcohol, all stakeholders benefit: Public safety is improved from less violence and fewer DUI tragedies. City public safety expenses are reduced. Business profits are protected from insurance claims and lawsuits. There are many ways planners and law enforcement can reduce overconsumption in newly-approved on-sale alcohol businesses. In reducing overconsumption, your city saves money—lots of money. This isn’t just our opinion. A Study to Bank On According to this study, for every $1 a city spends to reduce intoxication, it saves $260 (Levy & Miller)
Most city leaders assume their bars and restaurants pay for themselves. The numbers say otherwise—and closing the gap starts with rethinking two common assumptions.
Most city leaders assume their bars and restaurants pay for themselves. The numbers say otherwise — and closing the gap starts with rethinking two common assumptions.
I’ve been known to get a little obsessed with reaching goals — whether it’s catching a trophy brown trout over 10 pounds or hitting a Pick 6 for more than $50,000. Did I accomplish those goals? You’ll find out at the end. Another goal of mine is far more important and challenging: changing how California cities approve, condition, and onboard new on-sale alcohol businesses (restaurants, bars, clubs, and similar establishments). That's why I teamed with retired ABC District Administrator Lauren Tyson to design our upcoming workshop on best practices for conditional use permits (CUPs) and entertainment permits. The current process sucks. Yes, I sometimes use technical language. Who’s Behind This? I’ve spent years training hospitality operators, planners, and law enforcement on exactly this problem, and wrote a book on the topic, A Business Approach to Reducing DUI, along the way. Link to Gregg’s bio Lauren wrote the book on it — literally. As a former ABC District Administrator and author of Perils of Selling Alcohol: A Guide for Bar Owners Facing Legal Trouble, she’s seen exactly what puts ABC-licensed businesses at risk, and what actually protects them and the public. Link to Lauren’s bio How Do I Know the Current Process Isn’t Working? Let Me Count the Ways Personal experience. I went through the process twice — once in Costa Mesa and once in Irvine. In both cases, very smart, dedicated planners, working with law enforcement, created extensive conditions of approval. One business had 32 separate conditions. Both businesses followed every condition, yet both were still public nuisances for years. Working with applicants. Lauren and I have helped dozens of applicants successfully navigate their city’s CUP application process. Yet the operating conditions cities impose rarely (read never) have a meaningful impact on reducing violence or problems. Reviewing city policies statewide. We’ve collected CUP conditions and operating requirements from 35 cities across California, including several known for leading the way in responsible ordinance writing. The reality? A business can follow every specific condition of approval and still become a public nuisance. Training professionals. We’ve conducted in-person workshops for planners and law enforcement on this topic. Presenting at conferences. Together and separately, we’ve presented on these issues at professional conferences. Academic research. While writing my first book, A Business Approach to Reducing DUI, I researched the topic extensively, including contacting five of the leading urban planning universities to review their curriculum. Working directly with operators. I’ve trained over a thousand hospitality owners and managers. I understand their concerns, their daily realities, and why too many close. Revising how cities approve, condition, and onboard new businesses doesn’t just protect city resources and public safety — it also guides businesses toward practices that improve their profitability. The Bottom Line When cities use best practices to approve, condition, and onboard new on-sale alcohol businesses, the outcome looks very different. Applicants who complete the CUP process and open for business will hear consistent messaging — from planners, planning commissioners, code enforcement, and law enforcement — about the operational practices that significantly reduce violence and problems. Applicants will receive meaningful conditions of approval that, when followed, actually reduce risk for all stakeholders. Applicants will experience impactful communication with code enforcement and law enforcement that keeps the operator focused on practices that protect both the business and the community. That’s what effective onboarding looks like. We hope you’ll join us for our upcoming Zoom workshop. And if you twist my arm, I might even share a few brown trout fishing tips. Yes, I did catch that trophy brown — a 17-pound, 7-ounce beauty. I also hit that big Pick 6. If you ask how to hit a $50,000 Pick 6 at the racetrack, my advice is simple: Start with a $100,000 bankroll. WORKSHOP Conditional Use Permits, Entertainment Permits, and On-Sale Alcohol Oversight 📅 Date: Wednesday, October 28, 2026 🕐 Time: 10:00 a.m. – 12 Noon Pacific Time (2 Hours) 📍 Location: Live via Zoom ✅ POST Certification pending | APA Certified 2.0 CM COST -$330 per attendee; or -$990 flat rate per city (up to 10 attendees from your city) Learn more Register for the workshop WHO SHOULD ATTEND This workshop is designed for professionals responsible for reviewing, approving, or monitoring alcohol licenses, including: • City planning officials • Law enforcement personnel • Code enforcement officers • Planning commissioners Everyone involved in approving, conditioning, or onboarding new ABC on-sale licensed businesses must deliver a consistent, informed message at every step of the process — this workshop ensures they can. We offer a significantly reduced tuition for a group because the gains from this workshop grow exponentially when every department is trained together.
Alcohol Best Practices is pleased to announce a new Zoom workshop for public officials and law enforcement professionals involved in alcohol license oversight. Conditional Use Permits, Entertainment Permits, and On-Sale Alcohol Oversight 📅 Date: Wednesday, October 28, 2026 🕐 Time: 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 Noon,Pacific (2 Hours) 📍 Location: Live via Zoom (link emailed upon registration) ✅ POST Certification pending | APA Certified 2.0 CM COST -$330 per attendee -$990 flat rate per city (up to 10 attendees) Learn more Register for Workshop WHO SHOULD ATTEND This workshop is designed for professionals responsible for reviewing, approving, or monitoring alcohol licenses, including: • City planning officials • Law enforcement personnel • Code enforcement officers • Planning commissioners Everyone involved in approving, conditioning, or monitoring new ABC on-sale licensed businesses must deliver a consistent, informed message at every step of the process — this workshop ensures they can. WHY THIS WORKSHOP IS NEEDED After analyzing dozens of Conditional Use Permits (CUPs) from cities across California, we identified critical gaps in how cities handle new alcohol license approvals: Existing CUP processes lack essential messaging to applicants Legacy approval conditions miss the most impactful requirements Newly approved businesses receive little to no meaningful onboarding Until now, there has been no training resource for best practices in approving, conditioning, or monitoring new ABC on-sale licensed businesses. Contracting with us to revise your city's approval and onboarding process is a significant investment. This workshop offers a cost-effective alternative, equipping your team with proven strategies that: ✔ Reduce violence, DUIs and nuisance complaints ✔ Lower public safety expenses and calls for service ✔ Improve the profitability, performance, and professionalism of licensed businesses We look forward to seeing you there. Learn More Register for Workshop
(Insight in the “Drunk, Drunker, and High-Risk Drunkenness” series)
(Insight in the “Drunk, Drunker, and High-Risk Drunkenness” series)
(Insight in the “Drunk, Drunker, and High-Risk Drunkenness” series)
