L.A. Beerathon Canceled by California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control

beercrabs

as far as this crab is concerned, not having access to morebeer would definitely be disastrous

Sean Clifford

Some of us actually live downtown and don't want 4,000 drunks parading through the streets, acting like children and wearing their substance abuse like a "badge of honor" (and keep in mind I am a 28 year old guy who loves drinking good beer...and no I don't work for the ABC...ugh).

The idea that this event "support[s] a slowly improving downtown," as LA_Banker says, is laughable. Engaged residents, new businesses, and the continuing renovation of older buildings into residential space is responsible for the progress in Downtown LA.

The point here is that the organizers of this event should be thanking the ABC for contacting them in the first place and preventing them from committing 4,000 misdemeanor crimes. Never mind the fact that the bars should be thanking them for saving their liquor licenses and ensuring that we can all enjoy a beer (or 2, but hopefully not 26…) at the establishments in the future.

The onus is on the organizers of the event to comply with state law. They should have done their research, realized they were in violation, and reached out to the ABC earlier to prevent this from happening. The fact that they have successfully organized such events in New York is irrelevant and reflects their complete ignorance to what planning these events and running an alcohol-centric business entails.

This has nothing to do with "the man." This simplistic, immature, and polarizing way of looking at the world ignores reality. The fact is that the ABC and other such state agencies have a responsibility to act in the interest of public heath and welfare, and this kind of arrogant, organized alcoholism flies in the face of that civic good.

The LA Times should be ashamed for running with the ramblings of Simone Wilson. There's a reason this once great paper has turned into a punchline, and allowing for this kind of infantile, intellectually dishonest anti-journalism will send discerning people to other news sources -- perhaps even to the New York Times which surely has bigger fish to fry than commenting on the apparently successful "Beerathons" in that city.

The Last Underground Man

Sweetly stated-- like a finely brewed Sisters of the Moon IPA accompanied by fried calamari appetizers dipped in a mango-Manzano hot sauce, followed by a few BC Kusshi oyster shooters, and topped off with a lovely brandy snifter of El Tesoro de Don Felipe Anejo T-Kill-Ya and a good foot massage from an even lovelier Thai beauty.

Sean Clifford

Ooops. LA Weekly, not LA Times. Sorry for the oversight.

The point remains the same, however.

Caveman, Esq.

Ha ha. The "organizers" failed to research the law before they sold tickets. Sounds like it may be a breach of a duty of care owed to the class of persons who acted in detrimental reliance when s/he paid the $55 dollars and sustained damages that, in the aggregate, may amount to a lot of dough. Also, if it is discovered that the "organizers" had actual knowledge of the law and elected to disregard it, then each person may have reasonably relied on a concealment of material fact. And then, blame it on the ABC. Hilarious. Must be the same tortfeasors who brought you Silverlake Junction. But then what do I know? I am just a caveman.

The Last Underground Man

Good Point, Caveman. 25600 (a) (1) B&P is pretty clear.... And no-- alcohol-sodden, gutter clutching, hurlers/critics-- I don't work for ABC. I just like beer, pubs, hot-tipsy girls, and razor sharp logic. Is that a dichotomy? I'm thirsty!

Sarah_juttner

Seriously.. How the heck are you blaming ABC for this?! How dumb are you that you as an organizer collects $220,000 in ticket costs that you wouldn't have asked the city if it was okay?! Before screwing THOUSANDS of people out of a good weekend? Not only did I jump through hoops to get saturday off but paid for a hotel room.. Ok.. So everyone says not to be a downer of the situation. But if I wanted to do an unorganized pub crawl I would have down it a hell of a lot closer to home..

LA_Banker

Not to get too political here, but I've always hated it when republicans would complain how it's over-regulation in Los Angeles/California that's stifling business. And I'd always argue with them. And yet, with this... maybe they sort of have an isolated point.

Thanks ABC! We were only trying to support a slowly improving downtown (and by extension via sales tax), the broke state of California.

Dee71984

THIS BLOWS!!!! i been looking forward to this evet for over a month!!! way to ruin my weekend fun!

AngeCityTV

WTF!? I've been looking forward to this since last year!!! ABC just wants their cut like the mob!

Disgruntled Guest

Not ABC's fault. It's the shady organizers.

nope

It's totally ABC's fault...they just want someone to pay for yet ANOTHER liquor license, because obviously the ones that the establishments already paid for, are no good...

Dumb ass

Or just be responsible and have the right security and the right control over 4,000 drunk people.. If something went horribly wrong that day you'd be blaming ABC for not preventing it in the first place.. Grow up and don't believe the scape goat they are clearly trying to set up.. They just are covering their asses and you are falling for it

Crotty

Booooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Latuya

Another well sourced and impartial journalistic endeavor by Simone Wilson. Check your sources Hack. The organizers knew about the permits and other issues from the start. They will minute their lack of planning and jack-assery by pinning it on the "man"... These guys are just crooks and those that planned , bout uniforms and some even travelled to LA are now sh*t outta luck. How about hard hitting story on the organizers Simone?

LA_Banker

Shady? This has apparently been going off without a hitch in NYC for several years, put on by the same people. It's not like these are just some fly-by-night dudes trying to make a quick buck.

Also, the degree of your anger gives it away that you're from ABC. It's good to know we have such competent, fair-minded people regulating our liquor establishments.

Beerlvr

I'M STILL GOING!!! WHO IS WITH ME!!!

Kevin McCaughan

Ultimately we can't blame CA ABC. These things don't happen overnight. I'm sure this has been an issue since the event organizers proposed it to the board and even before they had one ticket sold.

What a bunch of jerkoffs.

Disgruntled Guest

Just received this reply on my email to the ABC (Will.Salao@abc.ca.gov): "This event was not canceled by ABC. It appears that the organizers canceled the event voluntarily. The organizers did not have the proper permits to conduct this type of event. The organizers were exercising the privilege of an ABC license they did not possess, a misdemeanor in California. In a nutshell, the organizers were selling beer without a license ($55 gets you one beer at 26 different locations). ABC, and from my understanding, LAPD and officials with the City of Los Angeles were only made aware of this event on Wednesday, March 28th. Had a bar/restaurant participated in this event, they would have been in violation of Sections 23355 and 25600 of the Business Professions Code. Part of my office's function is to also protect/educate the ABC licensed locations in the city. Had the bars/restaurants chosen to participate with the event, they would have been subject to disciplinary action being filed against their liquor license. Penalties can range from a fine to revocation of an ABC license. Based on my conversation with the Sam Gelin gelinsam@gmail.com, the organizer, Wednesday evening, he or his organization were not familiar with California law and did not contact our agency directly prior to planning the event. Had they contacted ABC when planning the event, they would not have been in this predicament."

Gray_Hunter

I emailed Mr. Salao too, and got the exact same response. I imagine he's not even reading our letters any more.

Johnny

that doesn't quite jibe with me. it's a technicality the ABC used. the beers were not being "bought". they were "free" for participants. similar to paying an entry fee to run the la marathon and getting water at stations. i highly doubt you can make a good argument that the organizers are profiting off the sales of beer.

Beerlvr

How can we access the course map???

L.A.me city we live in.

They have a map posted on their Facebook page. They said they would refund our money, but the ticket agency said that they are not going to refund the service charges. Plus, a lot of people (myself included) are already in for hotels, travel expences, and team uniforms. This hits hard.

LA_Banker

On the bright side, not much is different, right? You won't get free beers at those locations, but you'll also have your ticket money back. (Sure, it was a good deal getting 26 beers for $50... but it's not like you were going to drink all 26, so it's not quite righ tto characterize it as getting each beer for sub $2).

Anywho, I digress. Point is: my group is still day-drinking tomorrow, doing the course, and acting like nothing's changed. Yours should too.