SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- A designed to educate liquor licensees and prevent the sale of drug paraphernalia in convenience stores and liquor stores is being enforced in California.

California's Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) has issued a directive to all district offices to put liquor licensees on notice that it is illegal to sell certain products in their stores.

"By establishing procedures, ABC is putting liquor licensees on notice that it is illegal to sell certain products that are used by drug users," ABC Acting Director Jerry Jolly said. "Those licensees that continue with this practice will no longer be able to plead ignorance when ABC files administrative actions which may result in a suspension or even revocation of the license."

Items that are now illegal to sell include capsules, balloons, plastic baggies and other containers that could be used to package small quantities of drugs, pipes made out of metal, wood, acrylic, glass, stone plastic, or ceramic, pipe screens, water pipes (also called "bongs"), roach clips used to smoke marijuana, and small scales and balances that could be used for weighing drugs.

ABC will be placing licensees on notice through various means. New liquor license applicants will be required to sign a form acknowledging they understand the ordinance. Existing licensees will receive a notice with their annual license renewal form.