Kevin E. McCarthy, Principal Analyst. RE: r You asked how other jurisdictions regulate juice bars and restaurants that provide adult entertainment. In general, adult entertainment at juice bars and other establishments that do not serve liquor is regulated by zoning or licensing ordinances adopted at the municipal level.
These ordinances apply to all adult entertainment businesses, rather than just juice bars. The zoning ordinances restrict the location of adult entertainment businesses, while licensing ordinances regulate behavior within such businesses.
Zoning and licensing are not mutually exclusive, and several ordinances use both approaches. The U. Supreme Court has upheld the use of both approaches. In addition to these municipal ordinances, Iowa passed legislation in to prohibit sexual acts in businesses required to have sales permits.
In addition, legislation is pending in California, which would specifically authorize municipalities to regulate adult entertainment businesses. Historically, state liquor control authorities have been able to use the threat of license suspension or revocation to regulate adult entertainment in bars and other establishments that sell alcoholic beverages. However, some adult entertainment businesses have created juice bars that feature live nude entertainment but in which no alcoholic beverages are sold.
This memo does not address those establishments, such as health food restaurants, that sell juices but do not provide entertainment. Even without the presence of alcoholic beverages, such establishments may create harmful secondary effects, such as prostitution.
