California sources checked: October 12, 2026. In its October 9, 2026 advisory, Type 48 Licenses: Drug Testing Device and Drink Lid Availability Requirements Extended Indefinitely, California ABC says AB 1982 has removed the sunset dates, making the test-device and lid requirements permanent. ABC tells Type 48 holders to continue meeting §§25624 and 25625. The online code still displays the January 1, 2027 repeal date; the discrepancy and the chaptered bill are explained below.
What AB 1013 put in place
AB 1013 introduced the device-availability requirement, operative July 1, 2024. The current Business and Professions Code §25624 requires covered venues to offer drink-testing devices for sale at a reasonable amount based on wholesale cost; providing them free is permitted. Devices must remain within their expiration date or manufacturer-recommended period of use.
The relevant category is on-sale general public premises, Type 48. A business description such as “bar,” “restaurant,” or “hotel” does not replace checking the actual license. These provisions are California rules, not a nationwide requirement for every venue serving alcohol.
What changed in 2025
Two separate changes matter when reviewing an older AB 1013 checklist:
| Date | Change | Where to verify |
|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2025 | AB 2389 added duties for Type 48 applicants and holders responding to a customer’s suspected-spiking report. | §25624.5 |
| July 1, 2025 | AB 2375’s lid-on-request provision became operative; the current combined notice also refers to lids. | §25625 |
Under the lid rule, a removable cover must attach to a beverage container’s rim. It need not fit every container, but must fit at least one. ABC’s October 9 advisory explains that a requested lid should accompany a drink in a container it fits. Both these availability provisions still name Type 48; AB 2375 did not turn them into a requirement for every license category.
The current notice includes drink lids
The old test-only sign omits wording now required. The notice in the online code, also retained as an option in AB 1982, reads:
Don’t get roofied! Drink lids and drink spiking drug test kits available here. Ask a staff member for details.
Use ABC’s printable notice and verify it against the current statute. It belongs in a prominent, conspicuous location. A supplier logo, purchase receipt, or informal statement that tests are available does not reproduce the statutory notice.
AB 1982: approved by the Governor, Chapter 377
The official history records Senate passage on August 10 and Assembly concurrence in Senate amendments on August 13, 2026. The bill was presented to the Governor on August 20. The history then records “Approved by the Governor” and “Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 377, Statutes of 2026”, both dated September 20, 2026. The official status lists it as “Inactive Bill - Chaptered”.
The chaptered text amends §§25624 and 25625. Its Legislative Counsel’s Digest describes removing the January 1, 2027 sunset and offering two specified notices. The existing notice remains one option.
The October 9 ABC advisory also presents the second notice as an option for licensees and links an alternative printable sign. It offers another way to announce the availability of lids and test kits.
The official sources do not yet match. On October 12, 2026, the published code for §25624 and §25625 still showed the January 1, 2027 repeal and cited Stats. 2024, Ch. 714, rather than Chapter 377. That differs from ABC’s statement that the requirements are permanent. The advisory itself cautions that advisories may not reflect current law. Neither it nor the chaptered bill text specifies when the amendments become operative; this guide does not resolve that timing. Confirm it with ABC or legal counsel before relying on the amended text. Keep meeting the existing availability and notice duties.
A device name is not a product qualification
ABC’s October 9 testing-device FAQ explains that an individual test need not detect all three substances named as examples in the law. Its guidance concerns the licensee’s device-availability duty; it does not approve DrinkCheck or establish its detection capabilities. The agency does not recommend particular products.
Use documentation tied to the actual version under consideration. This article makes no certification or conformity determination for DrinkCheck. A negative result cannot guarantee a safe drink, and a beverage test cannot diagnose the person who drank it. DrinkCheck’s lab validation and the limits of any drink test are summarized in Evidence and Use.
A suspected-spiking report requires a response
Section 25624.5 requires covered licensees to contact law enforcement or emergency medical services when notified of a customer’s suspected spiking and provide the specified available information. A positive device result is only one listed category; verbal reports, observed tampering and symptoms also appear. The provision includes following responders’ instructions and monitoring the customer to the best of staff’s ability until responders arrive.
Immediate help must not wait for a drink test or paperwork. In a US emergency, call 911. For practical responsibility, stock and purchasing preparation, use Drink Testing for California Bars and Venues.
This is a dated editorial source check, not an individualized legal assessment or documented professional approval.
