Menifee Restaurant’s Alcohol License Put on Hold Following 2023 Incident with Minor
Collision Highlights Alcohol License Suspension at BJ’s Restaurant in Menifee
A recent collision in Menifee has led to a temporary suspension of the alcohol license for BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse, following a state investigation confirming that a minor was served alcohol shortly before the incident. The crash resulted in serious injuries to a minor, an adult passenger, and the other driver involved.
The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) suspended the restaurant’s alcohol license for 25 days, effective from February 17 to March 14. This action followed an investigation into an incident that occurred on November 20, 2023, when a minor was reportedly served three alcoholic beverages at the establishment.
The Menifee Police Department stated that the accident took place around 10:30 p.m. at the intersection of Menifee Road and Camino Cristal, which is less than two miles from the restaurant. Upon arrival, officers found a Hyundai driven by a 64-year-old man and a Nissan Altima occupied by a 17-year-old girl and a 23-year-old male passenger, who had been ejected from the vehicle.
Reports indicate that the driver of the Nissan lost control and veered into oncoming traffic, colliding with the Hyundai. Both men sustained critical injuries, while the teenager suffered major injuries.
A Target Responsibility for Alcohol Connected Emergencies (TRACE) investigation conducted by state ABC officials and Menifee police revealed that the minor had obtained the alcohol at the restaurant. The TRACE Protocol was established in 2004 to combat youth access to alcohol through cooperative efforts among law enforcement agencies and various stakeholders.
“Restricting alcohol access for minors is critical to preventing incidents of this nature,” said ABC Director Paul Tupy. “Licensees must uphold their responsibility to serve lawfully and refrain from providing alcohol to underage individuals.”
In response to the situation, a BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse representative stated, "We take this situation, our responsibility to serve alcohol, and our guests’ and team members’ safety seriously. At the time of the incident, in November 2023, we conducted a thorough investigation and took immediate action. We’ve always followed industry best practices and continue to reinforce robust training on laws and policies to ensure proper procedures are consistently upheld when serving alcoholic beverages with a zero tolerance policy for any violation."
