Planning Commission will revisit a police-backed proposal Tuesday to move last call to midnight as local bar owners warn of lost revenue and argue the city should target problem establishments instead.
Redlands police weekly update also includes four suspected DUI crashes and arrests, an attempted beer theft and a masked man arrested after fleeing officers
Redlands considers midnight cutoff for alcohol service citywide
Planning Commission will revisit a police-backed proposal Tuesday to move last call to midnight as local bar owners warn of lost revenue and argue the city should target problem establishments instead.
REDLANDS, Calif. — Bars, restaurants, breweries and other businesses across Redlands could be required to stop serving alcohol at midnight under a proposal going before the Planning Commission on Tuesday.
The Redlands Police Department is proposing a citywide change that would allow alcohol to be served for on-site consumption only between 6 a.m. and midnight, two hours earlier than the 2 a.m. cutoff allowed under state law.
The restriction would apply seven days a week to businesses throughout Redlands, not just those downtown, and would cover restaurants, bars, nightclubs, breweries, manufacturers and other businesses licensed for on-site alcohol consumption. Businesses could remain open after midnight but could no longer sell, serve or make alcohol available for consumption.
The proposal would not affect alcohol sold for off-site consumption at grocery stores, convenience stores and other retailers.
The Police Department proposed the change in response to late-night crime and disturbances downtown. According to the city, police recorded 44 assaults, 13 robberies, three shootings and five weapons violations between midnight and 2 a.m. over the past three years.
Police also cited a recent hit-and-run that left four people with serious or life-threatening injuries. During the same incident, someone fired several rounds at the vehicle while people were gathered in the street, according to the report.
Police say problems frequently occur as downtown bars close and large groups of patrons enter the streets at roughly the same time. Despite increased patrols, targeted overtime and coordination with the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, the department says problems continue during the two-hour period.
The proposal has already drawn opposition from local bar owners, who argued during the commission's initial June hearing that the city should target establishments responsible for repeated problems rather than impose an earlier cutoff on every business.
Barron Bowman, who has operated a bar in Redlands since 2024, told commissioners that more than two hours of business is at stake.
"No one goes to a bar at 11 to leave in an hour," Bowman said. "No one's going to come to the Redlands for a bar crawl that ends at midnight."
Bowman also pointed to two nearby businesses that don't serve alcohol but remain open until 2 a.m. and benefit from late-night foot traffic.
Nick Robinson, who owns Three Stags Irish Pub with his wife, told commissioners a midnight cutoff would cost the business an estimated 6% to 7% of its revenue and could force reductions among its 32 employees.
"I don't have any guarantee that we could keep going as a business," Robinson said.
Robinson said his business had made five calls to law enforcement during the previous year, four of which occurred before midnight.
Another restaurant and bar operator argued the proposal takes a "one-size-fits-all approach" that penalizes responsible businesses and urged the city to pursue a targeted approach based on calls for service, crime and alcohol violations.
Redlands currently does not impose a citywide alcohol service cutoff earlier than the 2 a.m. limit established under state law.
The Planning Commission previously opened a public hearing on the proposal June 23 but continued the matter. Commissioners will resume the hearing Tuesday and consider whether to recommend the ordinance to the City Council.
The City Council would have final authority to adopt the changes.
How to attend the next meeting
Tuesday, Sept. 8 4:00 p.m. 35 Cajon Street Redlands, CA
To join via Zoom: Visit www.zoom.us, click Join a Meeting Enter Meeting ID: 884 6352 1324 Audio-only Zoom access: Dial 1-877-853-5247, then enter the Meeting ID
A former broadcast news producer, Stephanie launched CFR in 2023. Originally from Michigan, she’s made Redlands home with her husband and three kids. When she’s not reporting, she’s problem-solving at the climbing gym or trying new local restaurants.
