Beauty salons and barber shops in California have been granted the right to serve free beer and wine without a license.
The act – AB 1322 – amends Section 23399.5 of the Business and Professions Code relating to alcoholic beverages and was approved on 28 September last year.
The bill was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown and came into effect from 1 January 2017.
The law now allows salons and barber shops to serve up to 12 ounces of beer or six ounces of wine without a license during business hours and no later than 10pm.
The license of the establishment is also required to be “in good standing” with the State Board of Barbering and Cosmetology.
Up until 1 January, it was technically illegal in California for salons to serve alcoholic drinks without a licence, although many did so under the radar. Breaking the law carried a fine of $250.
In the UK it is still illegal to serve alcohol in a salon without the necessary licence. At present, salons need to pay for a personal licence – for a designated person authorised to sell alcoholic drinks – and a premises licence.
However, in 2013, a new drinking law was proposed in order to make it easier for beauty salons and hairdressers to obtain a licence at a cheaper rate.
