ABC/OTS Alcohol Enforcement Grant 2026

The Alcohol Policing Partnership (APP) is a statewide enforcement and prevention grant program administered by the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Launched in 1995 to broaden alcohol law enforcement in collaboration with cities and counties, the program’s mission is to help local law enforcement develop and institutionalize comprehensive strategies that address crime and public nuisance problems tied to problematic alcoholic beverage outlets. The department’s broader mission is to provide the highest level of service and public safety through licensing, education, and enforcement. Through APP grants, selected agencies assign local officers to work closely with ABC agents. Officers receive training in ABC law, alcohol enforcement strategies, administrative processes, and community resources. ABC personnel and grantees jointly identify problem outlets, plan operations, and build community partnerships that sustain responsible retail practices. The initiative combines education and prevention (e.g., LEAD and IMPACT programming) with targeted enforcement, using tools such as decoy operations and shoulder-tap details as appropriate. Eligible activities emphasize a mix of prevention, enforcement, data systems, and community engagement. Grantees are expected to improve records management and alcohol-related data tracking, foster liaison between local agencies and ABC district offices, and use public information strategies to encourage voluntary compliance among licensees. APP prioritizes approaches that can be embedded in standard police practice so that gains continue after the grant period ends. The program reports outcomes in both quantitative and qualitative terms. Jurisdictions have cited reductions in alcohol-related arrests, crimes, and calls for service; increases in administrative actions and compliance operations; and visible neighborhood improvements near targeted outlets. Partnerships between ABC and local law enforcement are identified as a central driver of results, supporting more efficient use of personnel and public funds. Funding for the department and this program comes from license fees paid by the alcoholic beverage industry, rather than the state’s General Fund. APP grants for the 2024–25 fiscal year have been awarded, the current grant cycle concludes at the end of June, and a new grant cycle begins each July. Public materials indicate the cycle timing but do not publish application opening/closing dates, amounts, or match requirements on the overview page; interested agencies are directed to official resources and handbooks for detailed requirements and procedures. The APP overview page lists a program contact for additional information. Agencies considering participation should review the department’s grantee resources and be prepared to demonstrate capacity to conduct alcohol enforcement and prevention activities, track outcomes, coordinate with ABC district offices, and communicate with community stakeholders. Where timelines, dollar amounts, and eligibility mechanics are not specified in the overview, applicants should rely on the most current official guidance to confirm submission steps, required documents, and evaluation criteria.

Establish strong liaison with ABC district offices; maintain outlet-level data systems; leverage media to drive voluntary compliance; sequence LEAD/IMPACT prevention with targeted enforcement; document nuisance conditions to support actions.