REDDING - On October 24, 2020, California Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) agents and Redding Police Department officers joined forces to conduct two operations targeting underage drinking.  One operation involved a person under 21 attempting to buy alcohol at stores while the other involved a person under 21 asking citizens to purchase alcohol for them.

During the decoy operation two store clerks were cited for selling alcohol to the underage decoy.  Autumn Renae Carr, 28, of Redding working at a Circle K and Anthony William Wheeling, 25, of Anderson, working at a Chevron.

During the shoulder tap operation, two Redding residents were cited for furnishing alcohol someone under 21: Christopher Michael Scott, 29, and Richard Kenith French, 29.

“It is so important for clerks and citizens to understand what could be the severe consequences of their actions in assisting someone under 21 to acquire alcohol,” said California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) President Alan Barcelona.  “From deadly vehicle accidents to alcohol poisoning to bad choices that result in fights and sex assaults.  There is definite harm in furnishing or selling alcohol to someone under 21.”

Store employees who sell alcohol to a minor face a minimum fine of $250, and/or 24 to 32 hours of community service for a first violation.  In addition, ABC will take administrative action against the alcoholic beverage license of the business where alcohol was sold to a minor.   That may include a fine, a suspension or the permanent revocation of the license.  The penalty for furnishing alcohol to a minor is a minimum $1,000 fine and 24 hours of community service.