“Nothing good stems from underage drinking and it puts so many people at risk. ABC agents routinely conduct operations to identify stores, restaurants and clerks that are not careful about checking IDs. In addition, they will conduct follow up investigations when an underage drinker has been involved in a serious accident to identify who furnished the alcohol.” – CSLEA President Alan Barcelona
BAKERSFIELD– On March 9, 2023, the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) announced that it has indefinitely suspended the license of Edison Market, located at 12301 Edison Highway in Edison, after two clerks repeatedly sold alcoholic beverages to a 19-year-old who was subsequently involved in a deadly car crash on November 16, 2021. Alcohol sales are prohibited until the license is transferred.
ABC opened a Target Responsibility for Alcohol Connected Emergencies (TRACE) investigation immediately after the crash to determine the source of the alcohol that was consumed by the 19-year-old driver. ABC agents determined that two Edison Market clerks sold alcohol three separate times in one night to Jose Catarinoreyes without checking his identification and allowed him to consume it in the parking lot for more than four hours. Catarinoreyes left the business in a car and rear-ended another vehicle at a high rate of speed, resulting in the death of the other driver.
“Preventing underage drinking is a public safety priority,” said ABC Director Eric Hirata. “We want to remind licensees to check IDs carefully and help keep Californians safe.”
ABC sought disciplinary action against Edison Market’s alcoholic beverage license for furnishing alcoholic beverages to a minor causing great bodily injury or death. In response to the accusations, the licensee signed a settlement agreement. Under the agreement, the license is suspended for 30 days and indefinitely thereafter for the next 180 days to allow for transfer of the license. If any similar violations continue to occur at the premises at any time during the suspension, ABC has the authority to revoke the license.
