Every citizen approached just said “no”

“When every citizen approached in an underage drinking enforcement operation refuses to purchase alcohol as requested by someone under 21, the community is that much safer!  That’s what a successful operation looks like!”

– CSLEA President Alan Barcelona

OXNARD – On October 14, 2024, agents from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) teamed with Oxnard Police Department officers to conduct a “Shoulder Tap” operation. This enforcement operation is designed to create awareness about the dangers of underage drinking throughout California and keep communities safe.

During the operation, a person under the age of 21 and under the supervision of law enforcement officers, asked eight Oxnard residents to purchase alcohol for him/her.  Every person contacted refused to make the purchase.  The decoy makes it clear that he/she has money to make the purchase, but can’t because of his/her age.

If an adult agrees to purchase alcohol for the underage person, they 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).

This operation was funded by ABC’s Alcohol Policing Partnership program.