The department shall, before issuing any on-sale license for the sale of alcoholic beverages to be consumed or otherwise disposed of in any bona fide public eating place, determine whether the public eating place is equipped and maintained in good faith for sales to and consumption by the public of meals upon the premises. A hotel or motel of 75 rooms or more or a bowling center of 12 lanes or more, or any other bona fide public eating place, which hotel, motel, bowling center or bona fide public eating place is licensed and so equipped and maintained may sublet the sale and service of the meals required by Section 23038 upon notification to the department. Provided, however, that the licensee shall be responsible for any violations of this division caused or permitted by the lessee on the licensed premises. The licensee shall not sublet to a person who does not have the qualifications of a holder of a license.
Nothing in this section shall preclude the renewal, transfer, or issuance of an on-sale general license to any premises equipped and maintained in good faith for sales to and consumption by members of the public of meals upon the premises even though the operation of such premises is limited solely to the service of meals and beverages at prearranged events of a social or business nature and where admission is by ticket only.