No Arrests Made In Minor 'Shoulder Tap' Operation In North County

ENCINITAS, CA — No arrests were made during a recent shoulder tap operation in San Diego's North County, authorities said.

Deputies with the San Diego County Sheriff's Department and agents with the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control contacted 25 people during the March 9 operation in Encinitas.

A shoulder tap operation focuses on adults who purchase alcohol for people under the age of 21. A minor under the direct supervision of law enforcement stands outside of a convenience or liquor store and asks customers to buy them alcohol. The minor indicates they are underage and cannot purchase the alcohol.

If an adult agrees to purchase alcohol for the underage person, they can be arrested and cited for furnishing alcohol to a minor.

During the operation, none of the individuals contacted agreed to purchase alcohol for the minor, so no arrests were made, according to the sheriff's department.

"We conduct these operations to keep alcohol out of the hands of our youth," ABC Director Joseph McCullough said in a statement. "By preventing underage drinking we can increase the quality of life in our communities and reduce DUIs."

The operation was funded by ABC's Alcohol Policing Partnership program and the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.