Alcoholic beverage control: large outdoor events: drink spiking.

Assembly Members Lowenthal and Davies propose extending drink spiking prevention requirements to large outdoor events in California through legislation that would mandate safety measures at venues hosting more than 10,000 daily participants. The measure would require vendors holding catering authorizations or daily on-sale licenses for alcoholic beverage sales to offer drug testing devices and drink lids to customers between July 2026 and January 2029.

Under the proposal, vendors must make drug testing devices available for purchase at prices based on wholesale costs, with the option to provide them at no charge. The bill requires providing drink lids upon request that fit at least one type of beverage container served. Vendors must also post notices about the availability of these safety items at alcohol dispensing locations and follow specific protocols when customers report suspected drink spiking incidents, including contacting law enforcement or emergency services and monitoring affected individuals until help arrives.

The legislation includes provisions protecting compliant vendors from liability related to testing device results when manufacturer instructions are followed. Unlike current alcoholic beverage control violations, infractions of these requirements would not constitute crimes, with first violations resulting in warnings from regulators. The Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control would maintain online resources about implementation requirements, including approved signage and testing devices, throughout the program's duration.