“California ABC agents work to educate those who sell and serve alcohol, as well as the public, about the dangers associated with underage drinking.  Clerks should be checking IDs when selling alcoholic beverages and citizens should be saying no to those under 21 who are asking them to purchase alcohol on their behalf.”

CSLEA President Alan Barcelona

RIVERSIDE COUNTY- On November 10, 2024, California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) agents and Riverside County Sheriff’s deputies cited a store clerk for selling alcohol to minors, as well as two adults who purchased alcohol in the city of Moreno Valley. The citations were the result of a Minor Decoy Operation and a Decoy Shoulder Tap Operation.

The Minor Decoy Operation involves individuals under the age of 21 who work under the direct supervision of deputies and agents. The underage individuals attempted to purchase alcohol from seven retail licensees and was successful at one location.

The clerk who sold to the minor faces 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 under 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 $1,000 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.