The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office in partnership with the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) cracked down on underage drinking in Moreno Valley by conducting two sting operations, resulting in citations for several individuals. During a Minor Decoy Operation on November 10, 2024, one clerk was caught selling alcohol to a minor, while a separate Decoy Shoulder Tap Operation led to the citation of two adults for purchasing alcohol for minors. This crackdown was part of a sustained campaign to reduce alcohol availability to those under the legal drinking age and curtail its associated perils.
In the course of the operation, which saw minors attempt to purchase alcohol at seven different retail locations, those found in violation of the law were penalized with a minimum fine of $250 and/or 24 to 32 hours of community service for their first offense. An additional ramification comes from the ABC, which may impose administrative actions against the licenses of offending businesses, ranging from fines to suspension or complete revocation of their alcohol sales license. According toa statement from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, these efforts are fundamental in combatting the risks of underage drinking, which include a significant proportion of alcohol-related vehicular incidents.
The Decoy Shoulder Tap Operation specifically targeted adults willing to purchase alcohol for underaged individuals. With an underage decoy supervised by a peace officer, the decoy requested patrons outside liquor or convenience stores to buy alcohol for them, clearly indicating they were underage. Adults who obliged were subsequently arrested and cited, facing steep penalties of a minimum $1,000 fine and 24 hours of community service for furnishing alcohol to a minor. Historically, California courts have backed the use of underage decoys as a legitimate tool in upholding the law against illegal alcohol sales to minors since 1994.
Local authorities have used these tactics effectively since the 1980s, witnessing a steep decline in the rate of illegal sales by establishments from 40-50% initially to below 10% in some cities, evidencing the efficacy of consistent regulatory checks. Statewide compliance checks by ABC, as detailed ontheir website, are critical to this endeavor. They also encourage proprietors to participate in their Licensee Education on Alcohol and Drugs (LEAD) program, which offers free online training for licensees and their employees. This initiative, along with others led by ABC, aims to enhance community safety by fostering adherence to the state’s beverage laws.
The drive to maintain community well-being through the enforcement of alcohol laws is reinforced by programs facilitated by ABC, a branch of the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency. These measures not only seek to educate but also establish a hardened stance against the transgressions that endanger youths and unsettle the public tranquility. The program’s funds were drawn from a grant provided by the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. For more information about enforcement and preventative actions taken by ABC, the public is directed to visit the respective sections on their official website.
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