“The fine is hefty for furnishing alcohol to a minor.  That’s just one reason to politely say no, when asked.  Underage drinking can lead to bad choices, crimes, accidents and death.  Help protect your family and community by simply saying no to those under 21 who might ask you to purchase alcohol for them.”

CSLEA President Alan Barcelona

EL CENTRO – California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) agents and El Centro Police Department officers arrested four people on July 28, 2025 for furnishing, alcoholic beverages to minors.  The arrests were the result of a Shoulder Tap operation conducted in El Centro.

Shoulder Tap operations target adults who purchase alcohol for underage people. A person under 21 and under the direct supervision of a peace officer stands outside a liquor or convenience store and ask patrons to buy alcohol. The underage person indicates in some way that he or she is underage and cannot purchase the alcohol.

If an adult agrees to purchase alcohol for the underage person, agents can arrest and cite them 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 show minors have a higher rate of drunk driving crashes than adults. About 25 percent of alcohol-related crashes involve underage drinking according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). According to the American Medical Association, underage drinking can also increase chances of risky sexual behavior and teen pregnancy, juvenile delinquency, compromise health, and result in unintentional injury and death.

This project is part of the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control’s Minor Decoy/Shoulder Tap Grant Project, funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.