As used in this article, “veteran” means any person who has served in the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Space Force, or as an active nurse in the service of the American Red Cross, or in the Army and Navy Nurse Corps in time of war, or in any expedition of the Armed Forces of the United States, or who served in one of these services during the period September 16, 1940, to December 7, 1941, and received a discharge under conditions other than dishonorable.
Licenses and FeesVeterans’ Club Licenses
Section § 23450
This section defines a 'veteran' as someone who served in different branches of the U.S. military or related services during times of war or specific periods and was discharged honorably or under conditions not considered dishonorable.
veteran definition United States military Army
Section § 23451
This law says that certain local groups made up entirely of veterans, which are part of national veterans organizations recognized by Congress, are considered legitimate clubs. To qualify, these groups must have run a place for patriotic or similar purposes for at least a year.
Any post, chapter, camp, or other local unit, composed solely of veterans, of an organization composed solely of veterans which has been chartered by the Congress of the United States for patriotic, fraternal, or benevolent purposes, and which post, chapter, camp, or other local unit has, as the owner, lessee, or occupant thereof, operated an establishment for any such purpose for not less than one year, is a bona fide club within the meaning of Section 22 of Article XX of the Constitution and of this division.
veterans organization bona fide club Congress chartered
Section § 23452
This law states that a veterans' group, like a post or chapter, can get a special license to run a club if everything else is in order. The group must meet certain criteria mentioned in another section to qualify for this license.
The department may issue one veterans’ club license to any post, chapter, camp or other local unit described in Section 23451 for the establishment, if otherwise satisfactory, where the post, chapter, camp, or other local unit maintains its club.
veterans' club license post chapter
Section § 23452.5
This law allows a department to issue a special type of license, known as a veterans’ club license, to certain veterans’ memorial associations. These associations must be nonprofit organizations, focused on patriotic or benevolent goals, made up entirely of veterans. Additionally, they must have at least 18,000 regular members and have operated a clubhouse for at least three years.
The department may also issue one veterans’ club license to any veterans’ memorial association which is a nonprofit private corporation organized for patriotic, fraternal, or benevolent purposes, composed solely of veterans, and which has more than 18,000 bona fide regular members, and which owns, leases, maintains, or operates a clubhouse and has continuously operated a clubhouse for not less than three years.
veterans' club license veterans’ memorial association nonprofit corporation
Section § 23453
This law allows veterans' clubs with a special license to sell and serve alcohol to their verified members, their guests, other veterans' organization members, and military personnel. The license cannot be transferred to another person. Also, these members and guests do not need to sign a roster before being served alcohol.
(a)CA Business & Professions Code § 23453(a) The holder of a veterans’ club license may exercise all of the rights and privileges permitted by an on-sale general license but may sell and serve alcoholic beverages for consumption within the licensed establishment only to bona fide members of the veterans’ organization and their bona fide guests, bona fide members of other veterans’ organizations, active duty or reserve members of the Armed Forces,
or veterans as defined in Section 18540.4 of the Government Code.
(b)CA Business & Professions Code § 23453(b) A veterans’ club license is not transferable to another person from the person to whom issued or by whom renewed. The provisions of Article 2 (commencing with Section 23815) of Chapter 5 do not apply to the issuance of veterans’ club licenses.
(c)CA Business & Professions Code § 23453(c) A bona fide member of a veterans’ organization, bona fide guest, active duty or reserve member of the Armed Forces, or veteran is not required to sign in to a roster before purchasing or being served alcoholic beverages for consumption.
veterans' club license alcohol sales on-sale general license
Section § 23454
This law says that people working at a veterans’ club with a liquor license can't make extra money from selling alcohol beyond their set salary. The salary has to be approved at a regular meeting by the club members or its leaders and comes from the club’s general funds.
No member and no officer, agent, or employee of a veterans’ club licensee shall be paid or shall directly or indirectly receive, in the form of salary or other compensation, any of the profits from the distribution or sale of alcoholic beverages to the licensee or to the members of the licensee or its guests, beyond the amount of such salary as may be fixed and voted at any regular meeting by the members of the licensee or by its governing body out of the general revenue of the local unit.
veterans’ club liquor license alcoholic beverages
Section § 23455
This law says that the department in charge can cancel a club's license if they believe the club isn't functioning as a genuine or legitimate club anymore.
The department may revoke any license issued pursuant to this article whenever, in the judgment of the department, the licensee ceases to operate as a bona fide club.
license revocation bona fide club cancellation of license
