(California) – Agents from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) and Officers from approximately 80 local Police and Sheriff’s Departments arrested 432 individuals during a statewide underage drinking enforcement operation. ABC joined forces with law enforcement throughout California in a Statewide Decoy Shoulder Tap Operation that lasted most of Saturday, March 12, 2016. The operation was conducted to help reduce youth access to alcohol and make the streets safer.
432 citations and arrests were made during the statewide effort. Over 380 individuals were cited for furnishing alcoholic beverages to minors, however, almost 50 persons were booked for crimes such as possession of illegal drugs, driving under the influence, parole violations and outstanding warrants.
ABC agents and local law enforcement conducted a program called a Decoy Shoulder Tap Operation. 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, and purchase alcohol for the minor, officers 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. The program is intended to reduce the availability of alcohol to minors.
Many local operations were funded by the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control through the Department’s Grant Assistance Program (GAP), and some are funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). ABC is a Department of the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency.
