Planning commission approves upgraded alcohol license for Distractions Lounge despite school district opposition

Huntington Beach — The Planning Commission voted 4–2 on April 14 to deny an appeal of the zoning administrator’s approval and grant a conditional use permit allowing Distractions Lounge (16612 Beach Boulevard, Unit C) to convert from an ABC Type 42 (beer and wine) license to an ABC Type 48 (full alcohol) license, adopting police-recommended conditions and a one-year review.

The decision came after roughly two hours of staff presentation, questions about calls for service, and public testimony. Marco Cuevas, associate planner, summarized staff findings and the zoning administrator’s 02/18/2026 decision approving CUP 25-027 with conditions intended to address public-safety concerns, including prohibiting off-site consumption, requiring employee alcohol service training and surveillance, and limiting promotional pricing after 7 p.m.

The Ocean View School District’s assistant superintendent and chief business official told the commission the district opposed the upgrade and asked the commission to deny the intensification. “Adding hard alcohol will not provide role models or improve behaviors or better decision making,” the…