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Locals and tourists alike are always asking about alcohol on California beaches. Can you have alcohol on California beaches? Can you have wine or beers on California beaches?
Can you drink alcohol out of a red solo cup on California beaches? Can you have a keg on California beaches?
I get these questions all the time. In this article, I’ll review whether it’s permitted and share 6 beaches you can drink alcohol on the beach in California.
If you’d like to skip ahead, we’ve created a handy spreadsheet below with every beach in California. But before we get to it I’ll share how things once were in California and why the rules have changed.
California Beaches, Beer, Wine, and Liquor
It wasn’t long ago that many beaches in California allowed alcohol. Alcohol was synonymous with the beach because who doesn’t love a cold beer in the heat and who doesn’t love a glass of wine as the sun goes down over the ocean.
It wasn’t until the 1990s did the state, counties, and cities begin cracking down on alcohol. The first thing that caused problems: young people who drink and fight.
Sure these people are a minority, but there were additional factors why alcohol was banned.
- Alcohol and swimming isn’t a good mix: Whether it’s a pool party or at the beach, there are 1000’s of drowning deaths each year due to alcohol. One drink while swimming won’t be a problem but when people are having a good time – as people do at the beach – they tend to have a few beers. Waves, currents, and rip tides can overwhelm the most seasoned swimmer if he/she is drunk.
- Packed Beaches and Few Lifeguards: Lifeguards are relatively few compared to the masses at California beaches. Alcohol creates more work for lifeguards, plus it contributes to much more work out of the water. While lifeguards are well trained to deal with inebriated beachgoers, they should be more focused on saving lives in the water. Police patrol city beaches, but compared to the number of people on the beach there aren’t enough.
- Cans and Glass: Leftovers. People have always had a hard time cleaning up after themselves. Add alcohol to the mix and people become clumsy and forgetful. California has taken a tough stance on protecting beaches and ocean life. Plastic cups can last a century in the ocean and contribute to harm aquatic life. Broken bottles on the beach can injure those on the beach.
San Diego Bans Alcohol On All Beaches, Beach Boardwalks, and Beach Parks
I happened to live in San Diego in the early 2000’s. It was a great place to be a university student. During summer, the beach would turn into one massive college party with students from the local universities converging on the beach.
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In the 2000’s, San Diego was one of the last California counties to allow alcohol on the beach. It was great for businesses and fun for tourists.
Yes, there were kegs on the beach and ice chests filled with beers. Friends even hosted an annual beer pong tournament on the beach, complete with tables and red solo cups!
That all ended after a drunken riot on Pacific Beach in San Diego, where beachgoers actually fought the police (imagine that). Shortly after, San Diego banned alcohol on beaches, boardwalks, and beach parks (such as Mission Bay).
California Beach Laws and Rules
California establishes it’s beach alcohol rules through the state, counties, and cities. You might be wondering why? Well, many of the most popular beaches in California are “State Parks” and run by the State.
Other beaches are run on a more local level like the county or city.
Depending on what beach you’re headed to, be aware that if it’s a State beach or local beach. They will have different rules and regulations.
Some California State Beaches allow camping and you can have alcohol in the campground area but never on the beach.
There are 5 beaches in California that still allow alcohol on the beach. They are:
- Doheny State Beach, Orange County (waiver and fee required, and off the beach by 11pm)
- Carmel Beach, Monterey County (until 10pm)
- Point Reyes National Seashore, Marin County (Kehoe Beach only)
- Paradise Cove, Malibu, Los Angeles County
- Descanso Beach Club, Catalina Island, Los Angeles County
Who Enforces California Beach Laws
Depending on which jurisdiction you’re in you might be dealing with local police or the State Park service (rangers). In San Diego I usually see police patrolling the beach on ATVs.
They focus on the beach, not in the water like lifeguards do.
In State Parks, rangers will patrol the beaches looking for illegal fisherman and people drinking alcohol. Park rangers have the authority to issue tickets and won’t hesitate.
I’ve commonly heard people say “I’ll drink alcohol in a water bottle and dump it out if the police approach. On California beaches, police and rangers can use the “sniff test” and can use breathalyzers to discover if you’ve been drinking.
The risk isn’t worth the reward so I recommend not trying to be clever. Counties, cities, and parks may have different fines.
For example, San Diego charges $250 dollars for the first offense and over $500 for the second offense (per person). Most other counties in California have similar fines, though probably not as steep.
Complete Guide For Drinking Alcohol On California Beaches
| County (South to North) | Beach | Drinking Allowed |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego | Torrey PInes State Beach | No |
| La Jolla (Torrey Pines City Beach, Blacks Beach, La Jolla Shores, La Jolla Cove, Boomer Beach, Shell Beach, Children's Pool Beach / Casa Beach, Wipeout Beach, Hospitals Beach, Whispering Sands Beach, Marine Street Beach, Windansea Beach | No | |
| Pacific Beach (Tourmaline Surf Park, North Pacific Beach, Pacific Beach) | No | |
| Mission Beach (Mission Beach, Mission Bay, South Mission Beach) | No | |
| Ocean Beach (Ocean Beach, Dog Beach) | No | |
| Sunset Cliffs | No | |
| Point Loma (Cabrillo National Monument, Kellogg Beach) | No | |
| Coronado (Coronado Central Beach, North Beach, Glorietta Bay, Silver Strand State Beach, Ferry Landing Marketplace) | No | |
| Imperial Beach (Imperial Beach, Border Field State Park) | No | |
| San Diego - North County | San Onofre State Beach | Not on beach (can drink at campground) |
| Camp Pendleton (military access only) | No | |
| Oceanside (Harbor Beach, Buccaneer Beach, South Oceanside Beach, Oceanside Beach) | No | |
| Carlsbad (North Carlsbad Beaches, Carlsbad State Beach, South Carlsbad State Beach including Ponto Beach | No | |
| Leucadia (Grandview Beach, Beacons Beach / Leucadia State Beach, Stone Steps Beach | No | |
| Encinitas (Moonlight State Beach, D Street Beach / Boneyards, Swami's Beach | No | |
| Cardiff (Pipes Beach, San Elij Beach, Cardiff Reef, George's, Cardiff State Beach, Seaside Beach, Tabletop Beach) | No | |
| Solana Beach (Tide Park, Fletcher Cove Park / Pillbox, Seascape Surf, Del Mar Shores) | No | |
| Del Mar (Dog Beach / The River Mouth, Del Mar City Beach, Powerhouse Park) | No | |
| Orange County | Seal Beach | No |
| Surfside Beach | No | |
| Sunset Beach | No | |
| Bolsa Chica State Beach | No | |
| Huntington State Beach, Huntington City Beach | No | |
| Santa Ana River County Beach | No | |
| Newport Municipal Beach | No | |
| Balboa Beach | No | |
| West Jetty View Park | No | |
| Bayside Drive County Beach | No | |
| China Cove Beach | No | |
| Rocky Point | No | |
| Corona del Mar Sate Beach, Little Corona del Mar Beach | No | |
| Crystal Cover State Park | No | |
| Crescent Bay Point Park | No | |
| Shaw's Cove | No | |
| Diver's Cove | No | |
| Rockpile Beach | No | |
| Picnic Beach | No | |
| Main Beach | No | |
| Brooks Beach | No | |
| Victoria Beach | No | |
| Laguna Beach | No | |
| Aliso Creek County Beach | No | |
| West Street Beach | No | |
| 1,000 Steps Beach | No | |
| Salt Creek County Beach | No | |
| Doheny State Beach | Yes (waiver form and fee required and off the beach by 11pm) | |
| Capistrano Beach | No | |
| Poche Beach | No | |
| Komo Beach | No | |
| San Clemente City Beach | No | |
| San Clemente State Beach | No | |
| Los Angeles | Leo Carrillo State Park | No |
| Rober Meyer Memorial State Beach | No | |
| El Pescador State Beach | No | |
| La Piedra State Beach | No | |
| El Matador State Beach | No | |
| Lechuza Beach | No | |
| Broad Beach | No | |
| Zuma Beach County Park | No | |
| Paradise Cove | Yes (no liquor, beach closes just after sunset) | |
| Point Dume State Beach | No | |
| Malibu Lagoon State Beach | No | |
| Topanga State Beach | No | |
| Will Rogers State Beach | No | |
| Santa Monica State Beach | No | |
| Venice City Beach | No | |
| Playa Del Rey | No | |
| Dockweiler State Beach | No | |
| El Sugundo Beach | No | |
| El Porto Beach | No | |
| Manhattan Beach County Park | No | |
| Hermosa City Beach | No | |
| Descanso Beach Club, Catalina Island | Yes, at the club (small beach) | |
| Redondo Beach State Park | No | |
| RAT Beach | No | |
| Torrance County Beach | No | |
| Royal Palms State Beach | No | |
| Cabrillo Beach Park | No | |
| Long Beach City Beach | No | |
| Ventura | Emma Wood State Beach | No |
| San Buenaventura State Beach | No | |
| McGrath State Beach | No | |
| Mandalay State Beach | No | |
| Oxnard Beach Park | No | |
| Channel Islands Beach | No | |
| Silver Strand Beach | No | |
| Port Hueneme Beach Park | No | |
| Point Mugu State Park | No | |
| County Line Beach | No | |
| Santa Barbara | Butterfly Beach | No |
| Point Sal State Beach | No | |
| Surf Beach | No | |
| Jalama Beach County Park | No | |
| Gaviota State Park | No | |
| Refugio State Park | No | |
| Gaviota State Park | No | |
| Refugio State Beach | No | |
| El Capitan State Beach | No | |
| Santa Barbara Shores County Park | No | |
| Goleta Beach Park | No | |
| Arroyo Burro Beach | No | |
| Santa Barbara East Beach | No | |
| Lookout County Park | No | |
| Carpinteria State Beach | No | |
| Rincon Beach Park | No | |
| San Luis Obispo | William Randolph Hearst Memorial State Beach | No |
| Estero Bluffs State Park | No | |
| Cayucos State Beach | No | |
| Morro Strand State Beach | No | |
| Morrow Rock Beach / Morrow Bay State Park | No | |
| Montana de Oro State Park | No | |
| Avila Beach | No | |
| Pismo State Beach | No | |
| Montery County | Zmudowski State Beach | No |
| Salinas River State Park | No | |
| Marina State Beach | No | |
| Monterey State Beach | No | |
| Del Monte Beach | Yes (6am-10pm) | |
| Asilomar State Beach | No | |
| Carmel Beach City Park | Yes (until 10pm and no kegs) | |
| Carmel River State Beach | No | |
| Point Lobos State Reserve | No | |
| Point Sur Lightsation State Historic Park | No | |
| John Little State Reserve | No | |
| Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park | No | |
| Santa Cruz | Natural Bridges State Beach | No |
| Light House State Beach | No | |
| Santa Cruz Beach | No | |
| Twin Lakes State Beach | No | |
| Capitola State Beach | No | |
| Seacliff State Beach | No | |
| Manresa State Beach | No | |
| Sunset State Beach | No | |
| San Mateo County | Poppie Town Beach | No |
| Palisades Park | No | |
| Northridge Park | No | |
| Mussel Rock Park | No | |
| Long View Park | No | |
| Beach State Park | No | |
| Rockaway Beach | No | |
| Tuntis Beach | No | |
| Gray Whale Cove State Beach | No | |
| Montara State Beach | No | |
| El Grandada Beach | No | |
| Vallejo Beach | No | |
| Miramar Beach | No | |
| Half Moon Bay State Park (Roosevelt Beach, Dunes Beach, Venice Beach, Francis Beach) | No | |
| Poplar Beach | No | |
| Redondo State Beach | No | |
| Pelican Point Beach | No | |
| Cowell Ranch Beach | No | |
| Martin's State Beach | No | |
| Santa Cruz Beach | No | |
| San Gregorio Private Beach | No | |
| San Gregorio State Beach | No | |
| Pomponio State Beach | No | |
| Pescadero State Beach | No | |
| Pebble Beach | No | |
| Bean Hollow State Beach | No | |
| Pigeon Point Beach | No | |
| Gazos Creek State Beach | No | |
| Scaroni Road Beach | No | |
| San Francisco | San Francisco Bay (Aquatic Park, Golden Gate Park, East Beach) | No |
| Pacific Ocean (Marshall's Beach, Baker Beach, China Beach, Lands End Beach, Ocean Beach, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Fort Funston Beach | No | |
| Alameda | Albany Beach | No |
| Radio Beach | No | |
| Crown Memorial State Beach | No | |
| Contra Costa | Miller or Knox Beach | No |
| Marin County | Tomales Bay State Park | No |
| Point Reyes National Seashore | Yes (Kehoe Beach only) | |
| Mount Tamalpais State Park | No | |
| Stinson Beach Park | No | |
| Golden Gate National Recreation Area | No | |
| Dillon Beach | No | |
| Sonoma | Gualala Point Regional Park | No |
| Kruse Rhododendron State Reserve | No | |
| Salt Point State Park | No | |
| Stillwater State Park | No | |
| Clam Beach | No | |
| Fort Ross (Goat Rock Beach, Blind Beach, Shell Beach, Wrights Beach, Gleason Beach, Schoolhouse Beach, Carmet Beach, Arched Rock Beach, Coleman Beach, Miwok Beach, North Salmon Creek Beach, South Salmon Creek Beach) | No | |
| Sonoma Coast State Beach (Doran Beach) | No | |
| Doran Regional Park | No | |
| Mendocino County | Westport-Union Landing State Beach | No |
| Mackerricher State Park | No | |
| Caspar Headlands State Beach | No | |
| Russian Gulch State Park | No | |
| Manchester State Park | No | |
| Schooner Gulch State Beach | No | |
| Humboldt County | Humboldt Lagoons State Park | No |
| Patricks Point State Park | No | |
| Trinidad State Beach | No | |
| Little River State Beach | No | |
| Clam Beach County Park | No | |
| Sinkyone Wilderness State Park | No | |
| Del Norte | Pelican State Beach | No |
| Crescent Beach | No | |
| Redwood National Park | No | |
| Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park | No |
Conclusion
In this article we discussed whether alcohol is allowed on California beaches. Alcohol is permitted on 6 beaches but that’s not much considering how many beaches cover the California coast.
Alcohol is still allowed on most beaches outside of California but sadly, California has taken the steps needed to reduce alcohol-related crime and disturbances, drownings, and littering.
Just a decade ago people in San Diego could drink at the beach, even party at the beach! Now, people must stick with sodas and water to have a good time (it’s not that bad).
The 6 beaches that allow drinking are:
- Doheny State Beach, Orange County
- Carmel Beach, Monterey County
- Del Monte Beach, Monterey County
- Point Reyes National Seashore, Marin County
- Paradise Cove, Malibu, Los Angeles County
- Descanso Beach Club, Catalina Island, Los Angeles County
If you really need your alcohol fix, visit one of these beaches for fun in the sun and cocktails during sunset. If you can handle the heat without an alcoholic beverage there are hundreds of beautiful beaches to choose from on the California Coast. Enjoy!
