How to Deal with Noisy Bars and Other Nuisances from Alcohol-licensed Businesses

• What to do?

• Why Call the Police?

• Why Submit an ABC Complaint?

• Why Keep a Log?

• When the Police do Not Respond?

• Chronic Problem Unresolved

• Loud Drunks

Download the 2-page PDF version

Enforcement at alcohol-licensed bars, restaurants, and stores is generally complaint-driven. Therefore, residents need to follow the steps below to register their complaints effectively to address problems at these businesses, such as excessive noise, outside speakers, public drunkenness, illegal patio expansions, over-serving, overcrowding, loitering, trash, illegal signage, license condition violations, etc.

1. Call the Police non-emergency at 619-531-2000, give the exact address and business name, describe the problem, ask the dispatcher for the “event number,” and record everything in a permanent log. Encourage other neighbors to call as well.

2. Submit a complaint with the local Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) online at sandiegocompliants@abc.ca.gov or call 858-300-6855 (this can be done at your earliest convenience). Encourage other neighbors to submit complaints.

Police enforcement is complaint-driven. Your call is very important, even if the police cannot respond. Giving the exact address ensures your “call for service” will be put on the record for this business. Suppose this business applies for a new/modified alcohol license or entertainment permit or to expand its premises/patio. In that case, the police will check the “calls for service” log to see if there is a history of problems and grounds for denial. Also, “calls for service” allocate police resources, so the more calls in one area, the more police are assigned to that area. If you want to know what happened after the police arrived, you must ask the dispatcher to have the police call you. When the officer calls, ask for their name & badge number.

ABC enforcement is complaint-driven. Substantiated complaints are put on the alcohol licensee record, which is reviewed when the business applies for changes to its license, conditions, or the premise/patio expansion. ABC investigates complaints, and substantiated violations will result in ABC sanctions against the licensee, such as suspensions and fines. Keep a copy of your complaint and record it in your log. You can also send photos, videos, and copies of your log. You can ask ABC sandiego@abc.ca.gov for a list of the conditions attached to the license.

Keeping a log can provide valuable evidence if the business applies for a new/modified alcohol license and you decide to protest that application. You can also use your log to notify the police Community Relations Officer (see below) about chronic problems that must be addressed. In your log, record the “event number” (from the dispatcher), date, time, details of the problem, and any action you took. Record all occurrences of issues in your log, even if you do not call the police or take any action at that time. If noise is the problem, you can videotape the sounds heard inside your residence while you narrate the date, time, and noise source. When possible, take photos and videos of violations and violators.

If the problem persists, you must call the Police non-emergency again within 2 hours, or your call will be dropped from the queue. However, even if you do not call again, your original call will be recorded for this business as long as you provide the exact address.

1. Contact Vice Sergeant Ben McCurry (Investigations, Permits, & Licensing) at bmccurry@pd.sandiego.gov or 619-531-2973 and describe the problem and history (you may include copies of your log, photos, videos, etc.) Ask if the business has an entertainment permit and what the conditions are. WHY: Your complaint will trigger SDPD Vice investigation and enforcement and go on the business’s record. Complaints will be considered during the annual renewal process if the business has an entertainment permit.

2. Contact SDPD Community Relations Officer Jessica Thrift, jthrift@pd.sandiego.gov, and describe the problem and history (you may include copies of your log, photos, videos, etc.). Let the police know when and where the problems most often occur so they can focus enforcement correctly in the right place.

If the problem is Loud Drunks Walking in the Neighborhoods Disturbing the Peace or Committing other Crimes, Do This:

1. Contact SDPD Community Relations Officer Jessica Thrift (see box above)

2. Call Discover Pacific Beach (PB’s business improvement district) at 858 273-3303, speak to the Executive Director, and ask them to contact the nearby alcohol-selling establishments. Encourage them to post security outside, put up signs, and educate their patrons about respecting the neighbors and being quiet in the neighborhoods.