FONTANTA – On August 16, 2018, California Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) agents and the Fontana Police Department teamed up to conduct a “Decoy Shoulder Tap” operation, citing four individuals who purchased alcohol for someone under 21 years of age.

“Anyone who furnishes alcohol to someone under 21 just isn’t thinking about the potential chain of tragic events than can follow,” said California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) President Alan Barcelona.  “Underage drinking can lead to DUIs, accidents, injuries, fatalities, some real bad decision making on behalf of the underage drinker.”

In a shoulder tap operation, an underage decoy approaches store customers and asks if they will purchase alcohol for them because they aren’t 21.  If the customer agrees, the decoy provides money and waits outside.  Once the customer returns and presents the alcohol to the decoy, officers and agents quickly arrest and site the individual.  The penalty of furnishing alcohol to a minor is a minimum $1,000 fine and 24 hours of community service.

ABC agents and Fontana police officers conducted the operation at four locations in which 24 individuals were contacted by the decoy.