Thank you friends of StillWater, music and outside dining. As California Residents we:

1. Support StillWater’s right to have live music/entertainment and outside dining, governed by the City of Dana Point’s sound ordinances.

2. State-wide legislation which would limit the ABC’s oversight to only the licensing and implementation of California Liquor Laws and have the day-to-day operations of a business under the jurisdiction of the local municipalities.

3. The development of defined and measurable ABC standards, rather than the existing, arbitrary and subjective standards of practice.   

Background: The Alcoholic Beverage Control has arbitrarily decided to suspend StillWater Spirits and Sound’s ability to provide music - and potentially outside dining – using their license condition of “no audible noise at any level can be heard outside the premises” as a violation. This action was made in response to complaints by a few wealthy residents despite the City of Dana Point and the Dana Point Police Department providing testimony and studies confirming that StillWater has not violated the City noise ordinances.

The ABC does not have clearly defined or measureable noise standards – which makes it impossible for businesses to be “in compliance.” This gives the ABC the power to subjectively levy fines and suspend/revoke the licenses of any California business at will. They are using the license to serve alcohol as a weapon to control individuals’ Constitutional rights of assembly and free speech.

The ABC’s actions against StillWater are unfair and will have a negative impact on the entire Dana Point Community. It will set a precedent that will inhibit the revitalization of Dana Point’s Town Center, eliminate California jobs and deter businesses from coming to Dana Point. (Closing StillWater will eliminate more than one hundred jobs and keep thousands from enjoying live music and outside dining.)

As California Residents, we support StillWater’s right to have live music/entertainment and outside dining, governed by the City of Dana Point’s sound ordinances. We also support state-wide legislation which would limit the ABC’s oversight to only the licensing and implementation of California Liquor Laws and have the day-to-day operations of a business under the jurisdiction of the local municipalities. Furthermore, we support the development of defined and measurable ABC standards, rather than the existing, arbitrary and subjective standards of practice.