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Food

Buzzkill: The 1st Ever L.A. Beerathon This Saturday Is OFF Thanks to the State of California [UPDATED]

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Photo by nicadlr via the LAist Featured Photos pool

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Were you excited to test your endurance at L.A.'s 1st-ever Beerathon by trying 26 beers at 26 bars in downtown Los Angeles this Saturday? Too bad!

The state's Department of Alcohol Beverage Control is putting its foot down and putting an end to the Beerathon as we (hardly) knew it, according to an e-mail we received from a Beerathon rep. (UPDATE: Yeah, it's a little bit more complicated than that. We spoke with the ABC and the Beerathon organizers here.)

It seems the state took issue with participants getting "free" beer along the course. The event organizers argued that everyone was actually paying $55 for a shot at the 26 bar-course, and that the money would go to the bars so nothing was really free at all.

The organizers said 4,000 people signed up (!!!) and that everyone will end up getting their money back. Now the event has turned into a loosely organized beer crawl.

You can still do the course on your own. The bars will still be open and many of them will be having specials for that day. The entertainment scheduled will still be going on. Head on over to the group's Facebook page for updates.

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