Bill Barring Liquor Licenses for Biased Clubs Wins Passage

The Assembly passed and sent to Gov. George Deukmejian Wednesday night a bill to prohibit the state from issuing liquor licenses to large private clubs that discriminate on the basis of race, religion, ancestry, sex or age.

The lower house voted 44 to 30 to send the measure by Assemblyman Terry Friedman (D-Tarzana) to the governor, who has taken no position on the bill.

The measure represents the strongest step taken by the Legislature to open the doors of private clubs that traditionally have been the bastion of wealthy white males. The Senate previously passed the measure on a 24-4 vote.

“It is time to stop discrimination by private clubs,” Friedman said. “If 70% of the population can’t join these clubs, we have no business issuing them liquor licenses.”

No Vocal Opposition

There was no vocal opposition to the bill on the Assembly floor.

As many as 70 private clubs could lose their liquor licenses under the bill, according to the author.

Clubs that expanded their membership policies to admit women and minorities before the bill took effect next Jan. 1 would not lose their liquor licenses.

Among the clubs reportedly in danger of losing their liquor licenses under the bill are the Los Angeles Country Club, the Wilshire Country Club, and the Pacific Union Club in San Francisco.

The Jonathan Club, the California Club, and others that have moved to admit women and minority members in recent months also could lose their liquor licenses if they were to continue any discriminatory practices, such as providing segregated facilities.

Senior citizen, religious, ethnic, veteran and fraternal organizations, such as the Elks, Moose or Lions clubs, are not covered under the bill.

The legislation would apply to clubs that have more than 400 members, offer regular meal service and accept payment from non-members for meals and other services.

Private clubs that discriminate have already been hit by new state regulations that ban income tax deductions for business entertainment expenses incurred at these facilities.