California Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) agents recently teamed with local law enforcement officers in Merced, Menlo Park, and San Diego County to help curb underage drinking and cite people who furnished alcohol to those under 21.

“ABC agents work with local law enforcement officers in cities and counties in California in an effort to keep the public safe,” said California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) President Alan Barcelona.  “By conducting decoy operations, they not only educate store clerks and citizens, they are working to keep alcohol away from those under 21, some who may otherwise end up driving under the influence or becoming involved in criminal activity as a result of being intoxicated.”

March 18, 2021 – Merced

ABC agents and officers with the Merced Police Department conducted a Shoulder Tap Operation in which decoys under the age of 21 stood in front of local businesses, made it clear they couldn’t purchase alcohol because they are under 21 and asked citizens to purchase the alcohol for them.

The decoys approached 21 people during the course of the operation. Four adults purchased alcohol for the decoys. The adults were cited for furnishing alcohol to a minor and educated on the importance of not purchasing alcoholic beverages for minors.

March 27, 2021 – Menlo Park

ABC agents and law enforcement officers in the area of Menlo Park conducted an undercover operation in which decoys under the age of 21 entered stores in an attempt to purchase alcohol.  The decoys entered stores at 12 locations and were able to purchase alcohol at two of them.

The clerks who were cited and face a minimum $250 fine and/or community service for a first-time violation.  ABC can also suspend or revoke alcohol licenses at the stores.

March 27, 2021 – Santee

ABC agents and San Diego Sheriff’s deputies arrested three people for furnishing alcohol to a minor during a decoy operation in Santee.

The minor decoys visited retailers at six locations and tried to buy alcoholic beverages inside the stores. A clerk at one of the stores sold alcohol to a teen and was arrested on a misdemeanor charge.

During a shoulder tap operation in which the underage decoys stood in front of four retail liquor stores and asked adults to buy alcohol for them, 11 adults were contacted, two bought alcohol for the decoy and were arrested.