California liquor license types, in plain words

Type 41, restaurant beer & wine

On-Sale Beer & Wine - Eating Place. Issued to restaurants. Authorizes the sale of beer and wine for consumption on or off the premises where sold. Distilled spirits may not be on the premises (except brandy, rum, or liqueurs for use solely for cooking purposes). Must operate and maintain the licensed premises as a bona fide eating place. Must maintain suitable kitchen facilities and must make actual and substantial sales of meals for consumption on the premises. Minors are allowed on the premises.

Restaurant with beer and wine; no spirits.

Type 47, restaurant full liquor

On-Sale General - Eating Place. Issued to restaurants. Authorizes the sale of beer, wine, and distilled spirits for consumption on the licensed premises. Authorizes the sale of beer and wine for consumption off the licensed premises. Must operate and maintain the licensed premises as a bona fide eating place. Must maintain suitable kitchen facilities and must make actual and substantial sales of meals for consumption on the premises. Minors are allowed on the premises.

Full bar in a bona fide restaurant; the one worth the most on the resale market.

Type 21, off-sale general (liquor store)

Off-Sale General. Issued to retail stores. Authorizes the sale of beer, wine and distilled spirits for consumption off the premises where sold. Minors are allowed on the premises.

Liquor store, grocery or big-box selling spirits, wine and beer to go.

Type 20, off-sale beer & wine

Off-Sale Beer & Wine. Issued to retail stores. Authorizes the sale of beer and wine for consumption off the premises where sold. Minors are allowed on the premises.

Convenience store, gas station or market selling beer and wine to go.

Type 48, bar or nightclub full liquor

On-Sale General - Public Premises. Issued to bars and night clubs. Authorizes the sale of beer, wine, and distilled spirits for consumption on the premises where sold. Authorizes the sale of beer and wine for consumption off the premises where sold. Minors are not allowed to enter and remain (see BPC § 25663.5 for exception, musicians). Food service is not required.

Full bar, 21-and-over, no food required.

Type 42, bar beer & wine

On-Sale Beer & Wine - Public Premises. Issued to bars and taverns. Authorizes the sale of beer and wine for consumption on or off the premises where sold. No distilled spirits may be on the premises. Minors are not allowed to enter and remain (see BPC § 25663.5 for exception, musicians). Food service is not required.

Beer and wine bar, 21-and-over.

Type 40, beer bar

On-Sale Beer. Issued to bars and taverns. Authorizes the sale of beer for consumption on or off the premises where sold. No wine or distilled spirits may be on the premises. Full meals are not required; however, sandwiches or snacks must be available. Minors are allowed on the premises.

Beer-only bar.

Type 61, beer bar 21+

On-Sale Beer - Public Premises. Issued to bars and taverns. Authorizes the sale of beer only for consumption on or off the licensed premises. Wine or distilled spirits may not be on the premises. Minors are not allowed to enter and remain (warning signs required). Food service is not required.

Beer-only bar, 21-and-over.

Type 85, limited off-sale wine

Limited Off-Sale - Wine License. The Limited Off Sale Wine License allows for the sale of wine to consumers for consumption off the licensed premises. Sales are restricted to those solicited and accepted via direct mail, telephone, or the Internet and may not be conducted from a retail premises open to the public.

Online or mail-order wine seller; no storefront.

Type 86, instructional tasting

Instructional Tasting License. The Instructional Tasting License allows the tasting of beer, wine and/or distilled spirits at off-sale licensed premises. The quantity and number of tastings that may be offered to consumers is limited. This license can only be held in conjunction with a qualified off-sale license.

In-store tastings at a Type 20 or 21.

Type 70, hotel restrictive service

On-Sale General - Restrictive Service. Authorizes the sale or furnishing of beer, wine and distilled spirits for consumption on the premises to the establishment's overnight transient occupancy guests or their invitees. This license is normally issued to "suite-type" hotels and motels, which exercise the license privileges for guests' "complimentary" happy hour. Minors are allowed on the premises.

Hotel happy hour for guests only.

Type 75, brewpub restaurant

Brewpub-Restaurant. Issued to restaurants. Authorizes the sale of beer, wine, and distilled spirits for consumption on a bona fide eating place plus a limited amount of brewing of beer. A brewpub-restaurant licensee may, at the licensed premises, sell beer produced and packaged by the licensee to consumers for consumption off the premises. Minors are allowed on the premises.

Restaurant that brews a little and pours the full bar.

Type 58, caterer's permit

Caterer's Permit. This permit allows certain licensees to cater alcoholic beverages off-site.

Add-on that lets an existing on-sale licensee pour at off-site events.

Type 77, event permit

Event Permit. This permit allows certain licensees to sell beer, wine and distilled spirits for consumption on property adjacent to the licensed premises that is owned or under the control of the licensee.

Add-on for events on the licensee's own adjacent property.

Type 02, winegrower

Winegrower. Authorizes the production and sale of wine by wineries. A winegrower must have facilities and equipment for the conversion of fruit into wine and engage in the production of wine. Separate winegrower licenses are issued to each legal entity manufacturing wine under its own bonded winery permit.

Winery, including alternating-proprietorship brands.

Type 01, beer manufacturer

Beer Manufacturer. Authorizes breweries to produce over 60,000 barrels of beer per year.

Large brewery.

Type 23, small beer manufacturer

Small Beer Manufacturer. Authorizes the production and sale of beer by breweries which produce fewer than 60,000 barrels per year. The privileges and limitations for this type of license are generally the same as for other beer manufacturers. A licensed beer manufacturer may, at the licensed premises of production, sell to consumers for consumption off the premises beer that is produced and bottled by, or produced and packaged for, that manufacturer. The most common users of this license are operators of micro-breweries and brewpubs.

Craft brewery or brewpub under 60,000 barrels; taproom sales allowed.

Type 74, craft distiller

Craft Distiller. This license authorizes the commercial manufacture of up to 150,000 gallons of distilled spirits per fiscal year, and allows the packaging, blending, mixing, flavoring, coloring, labeling, and exportation of distilled spirits manufactured by the licensee. In addition, the licensee may sell up to the equivalent of 4.5 liters per consumer per day of distilled spirits manufactured by the licensee to a consumer at the licensed premises.

Craft distillery with tasting-room bottle sales.

Type 06, still

Still. Authorizes the use of a still used for the making of alcoholic beverages or capable of such use.

Still registration; usually paired with a distiller license.

Type 09, beer & wine importer

Beer and Wine Importer. This license is only issued to a person who holds another type of license which permits the sale of beer and wine for resale. This license has no sale privileges. It only permits the holder to import and export alcoholic beverages and to transfer the beverages to him/herself under another license.

Import rider on another license; no sales of its own.

Not in the feed: nobody sells to these the way they sell to a bar or store.

Type 10, beer & wine importer's general

Beer and Wine Importer's General. This type of license is one frequently issued to agents for out-of-state breweries or wineries who refer to themselves as "brokers." This license should also be held by companies representing manufacturers/suppliers where such companies have a physical marketing presence in California.

Out-of-state brewery or winery's California sales agent.

Not in the feed: nobody sells to these the way they sell to a bar or store.

Type 12, distilled spirits importer

Distilled Spirits Importer. This license is only issued to a licensee who has another type of non-retail distilled spirits license. This license has no sale privileges. It only permits the holder to import and export alcoholic beverages, and to transfer the beverages to him/her under another license.

Spirits import rider; no sales of its own.

Not in the feed: nobody sells to these the way they sell to a bar or store.

Type 14, public warehouse

Public Warehouse. A public warehouse license is required for a warehouse licensee who provides warehouse service for alcoholic beverage licensees.

Third-party alcohol warehouse.

Not in the feed: nobody sells to these the way they sell to a bar or store.

Type 17, beer & wine wholesaler

Beer and Wine Wholesaler. This permits incidental sales to other supplier-type licensees. However, to qualify as a bona fide wholesaler, a licensee must sell to retailers generally.

Beer and wine distributor.

Not in the feed: nobody sells to these the way they sell to a bar or store.

Type 18, distilled spirits wholesaler

Distilled Spirits Wholesaler. "Wholesale sale" means a sale of distilled spirits to any licensee for the purpose of resale. This permits incidental sales to other supplier-type licensees. However, to qualify as a bona fide wholesaler, a licensee must sell to retailers generally.

Spirits distributor.

Not in the feed: nobody sells to these the way they sell to a bar or store.

Type 82, wine direct shipper

Wine Direct Shipper Permit. This permit authorizes winegrowers located in other states to sell and ship wine directly to residents of California who are at least 21 years of age.

Out-of-state winery shipping to California consumers; no premises here.

Not in the feed: nobody sells to these the way they sell to a bar or store.

Type 26, out-of-state beer manufacturer's certificate

Out-of-State Beer Manufacturer's Certificate. Authorizes the shipment of beer to licensed importers. This certificate has no sale privilege.

Out-of-state brewery's shipping certificate.

Type 28, out-of-state spirits shipper's certificate

Out-of-State Distilled Spirits Shipper's Certificate. Authorizes the shipment of distilled spirits manufactured outside California to licensed importers.

Out-of-state distiller's shipping certificate.

Not in the feed: nobody sells to these the way they sell to a bar or store.

Type 49, seasonal restaurant full liquor

On-Sale General - Seasonal. Authorizes the same privileges and restrictions as provided for a Type 47 license except for a specific season.

Seasonal Type 47.

Type 59, seasonal restaurant beer & wine

On-Sale Beer and Wine - Seasonal. Authorizes the same privileges as a Type 41. Issued for a specific season.

Seasonal Type 41.

Type 60, seasonal beer

On-Sale Beer - Seasonal. Authorizes the sale of beer only for consumption on or off the premises where sold.

Seasonal beer-only license.

Type 43, train beer & wine

On-Sale Beer and Wine Train. Issued to trains which are ambulatory (non-medical) in nature.

Train service; no premises to call on.

Type 63, hospital beer & wine

On-Sale Special Beer and Wine Hospital. Allows for the sale and service of beer and wine to patients or residents of licensed hospital.

Hospital or care facility service.