ONTARIO – On January 19, 2021, a California Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) agent and Ontario Police Department officers cited two clerks for selling or serving alcohol to minors. The citations were the result of a minor decoy operation in which decoys under the age of 21 and under the direct supervision of a peace officer, attempted to purchase alcohol from 13 retail licensees in the City of Ontario.

Those who sold to the decoy face a minimum fine of $250, and/or 24 to 32 hours of community service for a first violation. In addition, ABC can take administrative action against the alcoholic beverage license of the business where alcohol was sold to someone under 21. That may include a fine, a suspension of the license, or the permanent revocation of the license.

“It is important for ABC agents and local law enforcement officers to routinely conduct these operations to educate clerks and to prevent those under 21 from obtaining and consuming alcoholic beverages,” said California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) President Alan Barcelona.  “Underage drinking can lead to DUI crashes, assaults and other illegal activity that impacts our safety and the health and well-being of our younger citizens.”