Two citizens also cited for purchased alcohol for a minor
“By conducting these operations targeting underage drinking, California ABC agents and their local law enforcement partners are working to keep our neighborhoods, communities and roads safe. In addition, they are educating the public and providing an important reminder to clerks to check IDs.”
– CSLEA President Alan Barcelona
LAKE ELSINORE – On October 15, 2024 the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office announced the results of a minor decoy and shoulder tap operation conducted in the City of Lake Elsinore on October 6th. California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) agents and deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s cited two clerks for selling alcohol to minors and cited two adults who purchased alcohol for minors.
The Minor Decoy Operation involves minors who work under the direct supervision of deputies and agents. The minors attempted to purchase alcohol from five retail licensees.
Those who sold to the 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.
In addition to the Minor Decoy Operation, ABC agents also conducted a Decoy Shoulder Tap Operation. A Decoy Shoulder Tap Operation targets adults who purchase alcohol for people less than 21 years of age. Under the program, a minor under the direct supervision of a peace officer will stand outside a liquor or convenience store and ask patrons to buy them alcohol. The minor indicates in some way he or she is underage and cannot purchase the alcohol. If the adults agree to purchase alcohol for the minor, agents then arrest and cite them for furnishing alcohol to the minor. The penalty for furnishing alcohol to a minor is a minimum $1000 fine and 24 hours of community service.
ABC conducts compliance checks statewide to reduce the availability of alcohol to minors. Statistics have shown that young people under the age of 21 have a higher rate of drunken driving fatalities than the general adult population. About 25 percent of alcohol-related crashes involve underage drinking according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Minor Decoy operations have been conducted by local law enforcement throughout the state since the 1980s. When the program first began, the violation rate of retail establishments selling to minors was as high as 40 to 50 percent. When conducted on a routine basis, the rate has dropped in some cities as low as 10 percent or even below.
