Officers from the Sacramento Police Department, in addition to agents from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) and officers from approximately 50 local police and sheriff's departments, cited more than 170 individuals during a statewide underage drinking enforcement operation designed to create awareness for the problem of underage drinking, increase public safety, and protect California's youth. Locally, the Sacramento Police Department visited seven ABC-licensed locations, contacting 43 individuals, citing six for furnishing alcohol to minors, and arresting one suspect for possessing illegal narcotics for sales. 

The goal of the operation is to heighten awareness about the dangers of underage drinking and to demonstrate the serious consequences for adults that buy alcohol for minors. “Unfortunately, thousands of young people die in alcohol-related tragedies every year in this country,” said ABC Director Eric Hirata. “This collaborative effort among California law enforcement agencies spotlights underage drinking prevention, increases public safety for communities, and boosts protections for California’s youth.”

The statewide operation resulted in citations for more than 170 individuals who allegedly furnished alcoholic beverages to minors. Many other individuals were either cited for open containers, public drunkenness, or taken into custody for various crimes such as outstanding warrants, illegal drugs, or driving under the influence. The operation was an effort to protect youth and build safer and stronger communities by holding individuals accountable for illegal activity that creates harm. 

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 of the local operations were funded by the ABC through the department’s Alcohol Policing Partnership Program and some were funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

ABC’s mission is to provide the highest level of service and public safety through licensing, education, and enforcement. ABC has developed programs that help protect communities, prevent alcohol-related harm, and potentially save lives, visit ABC’s website to learn more about ABC programs.

ABC is a department of the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency.