Repeal of Prohibition (1933)
The 21st Amendment ended federal Prohibition and handed alcohol control to the states. California built a licensing system, now run by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, to decide who may sell alcohol and where.
Every bar and restaurant in the state has needed a license since.
State control over alcohol remains the framework; California licenses tens of thousands of sellers.
It's why Pino's needed a state permit to serve beer and wine.
