While many California families paused from school and work to enjoy a spring break, California Alcoholic Beverage Control Agents (ABC) were busy wrapping up undercover investigations that resulted in the suspension of liquor licenses at four San Francisco Bay Area locations.

The longest suspension was issued to Dimples Cocktail Lounge on  Post Street in San Francisco.  On April 10, 2014, ABC agents posted a 45-day suspension notice.  The suspension is the result of a three-month investigation in which agents discovered an illegal drink solicitation scheme involving female bar servers who placed a surcharge on alcoholic beverages in exchange for keeping male patrons company. The bar would receive the cash for the alcohol and pay out a commission to the female employee.    In addition to the suspension, which means Dimples cannot sell or serve alcohol for 45 days, the liquor license is  placed on probation for three years.

“Violating Alcoholic Beverage Control laws in this manner can lead to serving too much alcohol to some patrons and may lead to other crimes such as pimping or soliciting prostitution,” said Alan Barcelona, president of the California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) which represents ABC agents.  “ABC agents work all hours of the day and night, seven days a week, to enforce the laws that are in place to help keep us safe.”

If ABC agents discover any similar violations at Dimples in the next three years, ABC has the authority to revoke the liquor license.

ABC agents also posted a Notice of Suspension at Bbos restaurant on North Capitol  Avenue in San Jose.  On April 17, 2014 the business was notified it would not be able to sell alcohol for 30 days.    The restaurant received the suspension for a number of reasons including permitting their employees to conduct lewd acts, allowing minors to consume alcoholic beverages inside the premises, allowing sales, service, and consumption of alcohol after their conditioned hours, allowing entertainment audible beyond their premises and storing open bottles of distilled spirits for specific customers.   Undercover ABC agents and local law enforcement agencies visited the premises multiple times during afour month period and discovered the violations.

Liquor licenses were also suspended for 20 days at Crogan’s Sports Bar on Locust Street in Walnut Creek and M&H Market & Liquor on Adeline Street in Berkeley.  An employee at M&H Market & Liquor was arrested for allegedly buying and selling stolen cell phones.  The liquor license at Crogan’s was suspended due to a high number of calls for service to the Walnut Creek Police Department.   Between August 2012 and November 2013 there were more than 200 calls for service.