San Juan Capistrano : Council Votes to Ban Gasoline-Beer Sales

San Juan Capistrano, unlike many other Orange County cities that are considering banning alcoholic beverage sales at gas station mini-marts, doesn’t have an outlet of that type in the city.

But in an attempt to send a signal to retailers not to even think about selling gas and beer together, the City Council on Tuesday unanimously voted for a ban on such sales.

Assistant City Manager Glenn Southard said there “have been no specific incidents” of motorists getting tanked while filling their tanks, but city fathers wanted to beat gas retailers to the punch by adopting the law, which proponents say will decrease the number of motorists who drive while drunk.

In addition to San Juan Capistrano, four other Orange County cities--Anaheim, Yorba Linda, Westminster and Brea--are considering laws that would make it illegal for gas stations to sell alcoholic beverages. Fountain Valley, Newport Beach, Seal Beach and Orange already prohibit such sales.