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Liquor License Expert Advice Articles

Liquor License Advisor, Lauren C. Tyson, is nationally known as an expert in the field of liquor licensing, enforcement of California liquor laws and responsible alcohol service. She has written many helpful articles on selling alcohol safely and legally.

Liquor license expert, Lauren C. Tyson, works with corporations, business owners, local government, law enforcement and the legal profession. She specializes in solving liquor license problems and liability issues by evaluating and developing alcohol management policies for all types of licensed businesses. She also helps new businesses obtain a liquor license and guides them on selling alcohol safely and legally.

Liquor liability expert witness, Lauren C. Tyson, is available nationwide to plaintiff or defense attorneys as a liquor license consultant or as a liquor liability and dram shop expert witness in litigation matters alleging over-service of alcohol, service to underage guests, and responsible alcohol service.

We get all kinds of questions from individuals and businesses. We have posted some of the more common ones, along with our answers.

Lauren C. Tyson is the founder and CEO of Liquor License Advisor. As a liquor license consultant, she provides practical advice and solutions on California liquor licensing, compliance and prevention. Her office is located near Los Angeles California.

Lauren C. Tyson has 29 years of education, training and experience in liquor licensing, enforcement of liquor laws and responsible alcohol service, and has earned many professional certifications and awards. As an investigator for the California Alcoholic Beverage Control, Ms. Tyson conducted hundreds of liquor license investigations and hearings for liquor license issuance and suspension. As a supervising investigator and district administrator, she also developed and managed the Licensee Education on Alcohol and Drugs (LEAD) Program. LEAD is an award-winning alcohol training program for business owners and employees that has trained over 200,000 people.

Lauren C. Tyson is an expert in liquor licensing, liquor law enforcement and prevention. She specializes in solving and preventing alcohol-related problems at liquor licensed establishments. Ms. Tyson consults with business owners, insurance companies, law firms, law enforcement, city and state agencies on alcohol licensing, liquor license problems and how to reduce the liquor liability. She also testifies as a liquor liability expert witness.

She is a frequent columnist for Beverage Industry News magazine.

Getting a California liquor license can be confusing, tedious and time consuming. With experience handling hundreds of liquor license applications and hearings, Lauren C. Tyson has the knowledge and contacts to handle it for you.

We manage your application for a California liquor license:

In some cities and counties, selling beer, wine and spirits requires special land use permits. We manage your zoning or conditional use permit application to save you time and headaches:

Many licensed businesses are in violation of state liquor laws and don't even know it. Many businesses use secret shoppers. But secret shoppers don't go far enough. With our experience at the Alcoholic Beverage Control, we leave no stone unturned. We detect potential liquor license violations and high-risk business practices. This can prevent costly liquor license fines, suspensions, and even revocation. Don't risk it.

Have you been cited? Facing liquor license suspension or revocation? Losing your city or county permits? We prepare a plan to fix the problem and improve your operation. This better prepares you to face the challenges ahead and ensure future compliance.

After Hours Sales & Consumption, Attire & Conduct of Employees, Beer Keg Registration, Clerk's Affidavit, Concurrent Sales of Alcohol & Gasoline, Conditional License, Contaminated Beverages, Disorderly or Disruptive Premises, Entertainers & Conduct, Entertainment Permits, Food Requirements, Law Enforcement Problem, Minors Purchasing & Consuming Alcohol, Minors Employment, Neighborhood Disturbance, Objectionable Conditions, Obviously Intoxicated Patrons, Retail Operating Standards, Retail-to-Retail Sales, Signage, Substitution of Brands, Undisclosed Ownership & Changes in Ownership and Unlawful Possession of Alcohol on Licensed Premises.

If you need a lawyer, we provide reliable referrals.

Lauren C. Tyson is an expert in the field of liquor liability and is available as an expert witness. With 29 years experience at the California Alcoholic Beverage Control, she specializes in preventing and addressing alcohol-related problems at licensed businesses.

While employed at the California Alcoholic Beverage Control, Ms. Tyson conducted numerous investigations of liquor license applicants and licensees. In addition, she represented the Department at over 300 administrative hearings on alcohol licensing and alcohol compliance matters.

In 1991, Ms. Tyson developed and administered California's award-winning Licensee Education on Alcohol and Drugs (LEAD) Program. Since then, over 200,000 business owners and employees have attended these classes.

A mistake such as sale to a minor can really cost you--and devastate your cash flow. Consequences may include liquor license suspension or revocation, a civil lawsuit judgment or settlement costing thousands or more, attorney's fees in the thousands of dollars, jail time up to 6 months, criminal fines, and a liquor license fine up to $20,000.

Yes, both the Alcoholic Beverage Control and local law enforcement agencies use these programs on an ongoing basis throughout the State.

Yes, as do local law enforcement officers. They may search your establishment without a warrant at any time you are exercising your license privileges.

Insurance, in and of itself, does not prevent liability. Some licensees relax their alcohol rules when they have insurance because they think the burden of paying claims falls on their insurer. Licensed businesses are only insured to a certain level of coverage. Beyond that, the business must pay the claim. Risk assessment, written alcohol policies and training are the best way to protect your license, business, employees and guests.

If your policies are unwritten, they actually attract liability and greatly increase your risk. On the other hand, good written policies help strengthen a legal defense--in criminal court, at an ABC hearing or in civil court.

Yes. In a study known as Project Alcohol Risk Management, bars that implemented alcohol policies sold alcohol less often to people who looked and acted drunk (Toomey, et al, Project ARM). Also, a study known as Communities Mobilizing for Change on Alcohol lowered youth access to alcohol from commercial sources of alcohol. The study involved retailers, public institutions, and community leaders in Minnesota and western Wisconsin (Wegenaar, et al., 2000).