Sheriff’s Dept. conducts decoy operations to prevent alcohol sold to minors

By SDCN Editor

Solana Beach, CA–These San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, along with agents from the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) and two minor decoys conducted Minor Decoy and Shoulder Tap Operations at various locations in Encinitas and Solana Beach, authorities said.

During the minor decoy operation, the minors visited retailers at seven locations and attempted to purchase alcoholic beverages under the direct supervision of officers. None of the locations sold alcohol to a minor decoy.

The Shoulder Tap operation was conducted in front of one local retail liquor store where a minor, under the direct supervision of an officer, asked adults to purchase their alcohol. The minor indicated in some way they were underage and could not purchase the alcohol. Seventeen adults were contacted and two adults purchased alcohol for the minor. The penalty for furnishing alcohol to a minor is a minimum $1,000 fine and 24 hours of community service.

ABC conducts these 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 drunk driving fatalities than the general adult population.

San Diego Sheriff’s Department partners with ABC through the Alcohol Policing Partnership (APP) grant to help prevent underage drinking and other crimes that may occur at ABC-licensed establishments.

In July 2023, the Sheriff’s Department received an APP grant for $75,000. The money is being spent in the communities patrolled by the Sheriff’s Department to reduce alcohol-related crimes and educate ABC-licensed businesses. The goal of the APP Program is to collaborate with local law enforcement agencies to help make communities safer. The cooperative efforts of the Sheriff’s Department and ABC are aimed at building positive working relationships between all stakeholders and increasing the safety of San Diego County.

Anyone with information on licensed liquor establishments providing alcohol to minors can remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477, or by calling the Sheriff’s Department’s non-emergency line at (858) 565-5200.