In a recent sting aimed to tackle the issue of underage drinking, San Diego's law enforcement joined forces to run an operation that resulted in multiple adults being cited for providing alcohol to minors. The San Diego County Sheriff's Department (SDSD), in partnership with the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) and the assistance of minor decoys, carried out the "Minor Decoy" and "Shoulder Tap" operations on Feb. 15, in the City of Vista.
The setup was simple; minor decoys visited six retail locations under the watchful eyes of peace officers to try and illegally buy alcoholic beverages. In two instances, they were successful. Separately, during the "Shoulder Tap" operation, a minor stood outside a liquor store and actively asked patrons to buy them alcohol, making it clear they were underage. Out of nine adults contacted, one was caught in the act. This individual now faces a minimum $1,000 fine and 24 hours of community service for indiscretion.
According to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department's press release, these compliance checks are part of a larger state-wide initiative by ABC that aims to reduce the availability of alcohol to minors. Research stands as a grim harbinger, highlighting that drunken driving fatalities among those under 21 surpass those of the general adult population.
Financial support for these operations is provided by the Alcohol Policing Partnership (APP) grant, which SDSD received back in July 2023 to the tune of $75,000. This grant will be invested in community and educational efforts to curb the tide of alcohol-related crimes. ABC's partnership with local law enforcement like SDSD represents a concerted effort to bring together various community stakeholders and increase safety in San Diego County.
Informants looking to report underage alcohol sales can contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at (888) 580-8477 or the Sheriff's Department’s non-emergency line at (858) 565-5200. Media inquiries can be directed to Sgt. M. Orsini at [email protected] or by phone at 858-790-4584.
