Local News in Brief : Laguna Beach : Club Postnuclear Loses Bid for OK to Sell Beer

Club Postnuclear, the new Laguna Beach rock music venue, failed Tuesday to win city officials’ permission to sell beer.

In a 5-0 vote, the City Council denied owner William (Max) Nee’s proposal to introduce beer sales at the club, which has had a no-alcohol policy. The club caters to a clientele that is 18 and older.

Council members cited two main objections to allowing alcohol at Club Postnuclear. They disapproved of minors mixing with adult beer drinkers, and they expressed concern that allowing alcohol at Club Postnuclear could lead to an increase in drunk-driving accidents on Laguna Canyon Road, the scene of many fatal accidents.

Nee said the denial may force him to give up booking live bands at the club, which is at 775 Laguna Canyon Road.

The club opened last July with a no-alcohol and no-smoking policy, but after a few months of slack attendance at concerts, Nee decided that Postnuclear needed to sell beer in order to build its audience and broaden musical offerings.

Nee and several other speakers backing Postnuclear’s beer proposal argued that the club would offer a “safe, controlled” atmosphere for entertainment and an effective alternative to unsupervised teen parties where alcohol is routinely abused.