EUREKA  – On October 24, 2025, the Eureka Police Department, along with an agent from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC), conducted a Minor Decoy operation in which a decoy under the age of 21 and under the direct supervision of law enforcement, attempted to purchase alcohol from 21 retail licensees in the City of Eureka. Every single clerk asked the decoy for identification and refused the sale.  No arrests or citations were made as a result of this operation.

“That is a successful operation!  That is the goal of these operations.  To educate clerks, make sure they are asking for identification, and that they are keeping alcohol from underage adults,” said California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) President Alan Barcelona.  “That’s a great day’s work for the agent and officers, and our thank you to the volunteer decoy as well. Kudos to the clerks for passing the test!”

Clerks who sell to a minor face a minimum fine of $250 and 24 to 32 hours of community service for a first violation. In addition, ABC may take administrative action against the alcoholic beverage license of the business where alcohol was sold to a minor. This may include a fine, suspension, or the permanent revocation of the license.

Conducting these operations helps reduce underage drinking and increases public safety.

Businesses should always check IDs before selling alcohol. Preventing access to people not old enough to legally purchase alcohol improves safety on our roadways and in our communities. 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).