A 40-year old man died after being stabbed at the El Diamante nightclub, 12002 S. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, shortly after midnight today. KTLA news reported people in the nightclub two men began arguing. The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) believes the stabbing is gang-related.
Sigh.
After reading an article like this, I’m usually compelled to do some digging. So, I went to the CA Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control’s (ABC) website. I wanted to see if El Diamante’s had any past problems with their liquor license.
I clicked on License Query System entered the name, El Diamante. (You can do this, too. It’s public information.)
And I discovered the current owners of El Diamante have had a beer and wine license since 2006 with no previous liquor license problems.
However…
The club did have two violations under previous owners: one in 1998, and another in 2000. Both were violations of the “drink solicitation” law.
In my experience, patrons drinking too much, combined with drink solicitation, is a recipe for major violence and liquor license problems.
What is drink solicitation, you ask?
Most commonly, it’s an illegal practice whereby a female asks a male patron to buy her a drink, and the female is employed or permitted to loiter for that purpose. The politically incorrect term for the female is “B-girl” (short for bar-girl). It’s a crime and can result in liquor license suspension or revocation.
When I was Enforcement Supervisor at the ABC’s Inglewood District Office, B-girls were drinking little 7-oz. beers called chicas. That may still be the case. (Often, the establishment tracks the number of drinks solicited, and takes a percentage of the profits–an even bigger whammy from the ABC.)
By the way… even the most upscale restaurants may unknowingly be violating the same law. Although the owner might not have B-girls, does he pay his employees a percentage or commission on the sale of alcohol–to encourage the purchase or sale of alcohol?
Here’s how the law reads:
“25657. It is unlawful:
(a) For any person to employ, upon any licensed on-sale premises, any person for the purpose of procuring or encouraging the purchase or sale of alcoholic beverages, or to pay any such person a percentage or commission on the sale of alcoholic beverages for procuring or encouraging the purchase or sale of alcoholic beverages on such premises.
(b) In any place of business where alcoholic beverages are sold to be consumed upon the premises, to employ or knowingly permit anyone to loiter in or about said premises for the purpose of begging or soliciting any patron or customer of, or visitor in, such premises to purchase any alcoholic beverages for the one begging or soliciting. Every person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor.
I don’t know what caused the fight at El Diamante. But I do know what happens next. LAPD will complete their investigation and submit their written report to the local ABC office. The ABC will review the evidence and decide whether grounds exist to suspend or revoke El Diamante’s liquor license. We’ll see.
Stay safe and legal.
Disclaimer: This is not intended as legal advice. Please check with a competent attorney before doing anything that could jeopardize your liquor license.
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