OXNARD – On July 26, 2024, California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) agents teamed with Oxnard Police Department officers to conduct a “Shoulder Tap” operation which targets underage drinking and citizens who furnish alcohol to someone under 21.  During the operation, four citizens agreed to purchase alcohol for decoys who asked patrons of a store to buy alcohol for them.

An adult who agrees to purchase alcohol for the underage decoy can be arrested and cited for furnishing alcohol to a minor. The penalty for furnishing alcohol to a minor is a minimum $1,000 fine and 24 hours of community service.

Statistics have shown that young people under the age of 21 have a much higher risk of being involved in a crash than older drivers. About 25 percent of fatal crashes involve underage drinking according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

“A polite ‘no, I cannot’ goes a long way in keeping young people safe and adults from being arrested, cited and fined,” said California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) President Alan Barcelona.  “We appreciate the continued effort by ABC agents and their local law enforcement partners in educating the public and working to keep alcohol from those under the age of 21.”