Los Angeles herald., 1909-05-22
DEFINE LIQUOR LAWS
FOR RESTAURANT men
POLICE COMMISSION ISSUES
CIRCULAR LETTER
Eiqhty-one Holders of Licenses Not'-
fled What Is Expected of Them
When Liquid Refresh
ment Is Served

Fiebty-one holders of restaturaht
liquor licenses were notified by inc
notice commission yesterday what VIII
he expected of them in the way OIL
serving meals with all liquid relres'i-
,nants. A circular letter has been pre-
pared nv Commissioners Trask and An
drews and 1000 copies of this letter nave
been printed. These letters were malieu
out by Secretary Mcheag yeslei ' uaS
and will be in the hands OF the te So.
ant men before Sunday. Chlet DISH
,,,sn believes that as a result OF lhese
letters there will be less Sunday drunk
ennass. The letter is as follows:
"Rv order of the police commission
ore of the city of Los Angeles am
;,,s+,,1cted 10 mail this circular to all
,,ersons firms or corporations carry
mo an the business of a restaurant OF
eating place where spirltuous' Nlliou9'
malt or mixed intoxicating liquors are
served. .,,o r,ro-
your attention is called to the pro
visions of the ordinances regulating
The sale of intoxicating liquors. 1t Is
yo,,r duty To observe these ordinances
strictly. and it is the duty of the po-
Ice commissioners to see that they are
enforced strictly. -.-...,,.
.rrhe ordinance defines restaurant
.to he a Mace fully equipped with MOD
ern conVeniences for cooking ana pre-
naring victuals, and where not meals
are actually served at least three times
a day and at least six days IN inc
week; and a bona noe meal Is uehiio'
Ia he a meal consisting of such guam
tity and quality of food as is ordl-
nart1v served for a meal in hotels or
restaurants. Merely sandwiches or
lunches. or crackers or cheese shail
NOT he held nor considered to be a bona
fde meal within the provisions OF TINS
ordinance. -
.tIt Is evident that the ordinance was
passed for the benefit of persons en-
gagged i'm the restaurant business so as
TO enable them to serve Intoxicating
liquors with bona fide meals IN orlgl-
na1 packages containing not less than
one mint to be consumed on the prem
ises. Such intoxicating liquors can be
served only with such bona tide meals
and in the manner stated. The re-
ouirements for the vending of intoXi-
eating liquors by a restaurant keeper
are:
HE must have a restaurant liquor
license. his business must be primarily
that of serving such meals, as TO quail
ity and quantity of food. as are Or
01nHGllX- NnOI SOUltlllliGS VI CNNet3AN''N'
ly) served in hotels and restaurants.
The meals selWed are not to be served
as an incident to or as pretext for
the serving of Intoxicating liquors.
But intoxicating liquors can be served
only in the original sealed packages
containing quantities of not less than
one pint each, with bona>-fide meals,
at the place where said meals are
eaten
"Hence any subterfuges, such as
serving dish of soup, or plate OF
beans, or sandwiches, or lunches, or
crackers, or cheese or the like. as IA
pretext for serving herewith spiritu-
Gus, vinous, malt or mixed Intoxicating
liquors will not and cannot be accept
ed as compliance with the ordinance
that permits such liquors to be served
only with bona fide meals.
"All persons, firms or corporations
holding permits for the sale of intoXi-
eating liquors are warned to so con-
duct their business as not to violate
either the spirit or the letter of the or
dinances relating thereto. Respectfully
submitted, c. p. McKEAG,
Secretary to the Police Commission"