Single-Serve Alcohol A 'Threat To Public Safety'? Hesperia City Council Eyes Ban

HESPERIA (CBSLA.com) — It may soon be against the law for residents in Hesperia to purchase single-serve alcoholic beverages from their local store.

The Hesperia City Council was expected to vote Tuesday on an ordinance that would declare any alcoholic beverage packaged and sold individually - including single cans of beer and 40-ounce malt liquor bottles - a public nuisance and "a threat to the public peace, safety and welfare" of the city.

Citing studies that indicate a "correlation between consumption of single-serve alcoholic beverages and higher gang crime", Ordinance No. 2015-04 (PDF) would make it unlawful for any establishment selling alcohol for off-site consumption to sell single–serve alcoholic beverages and small bottles of wine or distilled spirits.

The proposed ordinance would not affect alcohol sold in six-packs or other multiple cans or bottles packaged together, nor wine bottles of at least 750 milliliters or containers of distilled spirits of at least 375 milliliters.

Some local store owners have reportedly complained of being unfairly targeted by the city in an effort to crack down on homelessness.

In 2010, officials in San Bernardino voted to impose a similar ban.