When Halloween falls on a Friday or Saturday night, it means more young people are likely to celebrate with alcohol and the risk of underage drinking and the problems associated with it rises dramatically.

“Thankfully, we have very dedicated California Alcoholic Beverage Control Agents who will give up their only family time tonight and focus their efforts on keeping drunk drivers off the road,” said California  Statewide  Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) President Alan Barcelona.  “Halloween on a Friday night tends to be a big party night, particularly in college communities and we want everyone to play it safe.”

ABC Agents will team up with other law enforcement agencies and prevention organizations  to will enforce underage drinking laws to help make Halloween celebrations as safe as possible.

“Too many young Californians under the age of 21 are killed or injured in alcohol-related crashes and incidents and we’re hoping enforcement efforts will prevent tragedies from occurring,” said ABC Director Tim Gorsuch.

Enforcement will be broad based and agents will be checking on ABC licensed businesses, large parties and adults who furnish alcohol to minors.   ABC will use Minor Decoy and Decoy Shoulder Tap Operations in its effort to increase public safety.  

A Minor Decoy Operation involves minors, under the direct supervision of  ABC Agents, who attempt to purchase alcohol from retail licensees.

Decoy Shoulder Tap Operations are designed to reduce the number of adults who purchase alcohol for people under 21 years-old. Under the program,  decoys  (under 21)  will stand outside licensed businesses that sell  alcohol and ask patrons to buy them alcohol. The minor indicates in some way he or she is underage and cannot purchase the alcohol. If the adults buy alcohol, agents and officers  then arrest and cite them for furnishing alcohol to the minor. The penalty for furnishing alcohol to a minor is a minimum $1,000 fine and 24 hours of community service.

“The goal is for a fun  Halloween night in which laws are obeyed and people are safe,” said Barcelona.  “I thank our CSLEA members who are ABC Agents and working tonight to prevent injuries, accidents and deaths.  I wish them a very safe night as well.”