“California ABC agents work with local law enforcement to educate and enforce, two components that can assist with safety in our communities.  When four of 14 ABC licensees tested, fail, and allow the sale of alcohol to someone under 21, that’s a sign that ABC’s decoy work must continue.”

CSLEA President Alan Barcelona

MONTEREY COUNTY –On April 3-4, 2026, California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) agents and Monterey County Sheriff’s deputies cited four people for selling alcohol to someone under the age of 21. The citations were the result of a Minor Decoy operation in which a decoy under the age of 21, and under the direct supervision of department agents, attempted to purchase alcohol from 14 retail licensees in Monterey County. Attempts to purchase alcohol at convenience/liquor stores were met with negative results. All four people cited were at Restaurant/Bar locations in the City of Salinas and Carmel Valley. 

Those cited range in age from 22 to 54 years old and now 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. That may include a fine, suspension, or the permanent revocation of the license.

Monterey County Sheriff Tina Nieto stated, “This past weekend there were two alcohol-related fatal crashes that involved adult drivers, one taking the life of a 16-year-old young man. This underscores that impaired driving is a lifelong responsibility. Education and awareness must reach every level of our community. That means holding businesses and individuals accountable for the unlawful sale of alcohol to minors. By starting these conversations early and reinforcing them over time, we can help prevent the tragedies we have recently experienced.”

“Licensees should always check identification before selling alcohol,” said ABC Director Paul Tupy. “Our roadways and communities see improved safety when we prevent access to people not old enough to legally purchase alcohol.”

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).

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 to below 10 percent in some cities. In 1994, the California Supreme Court ruled unanimously that use of minor decoys is a valid legal tool of law enforcement to make sure that licensees are complying with the law.