City Officials Want to Shake Rep as 'Party' Place for July 4th Underage Drinking

The city of Hermosa Beach continues its commitment to strictly enforce laws banning public intoxication, driving under the influence, underage drinking and drinking on the beach, with strict enforcement of laws beginning July 4th.      

Hermosa Beach City Council and the Hermosa Beach Police Department are enacting strict law enforcement efforts to combat the South Bay’s growing underage drinking issue. 

According to a study released by the Prevention Community Council, a project of Behavioral Health Services, Inc. in Torrance, the Beach Cities of Los Angeles have substantial above average results in comparison to the national average of underage consumption of alcoholic beverages. 

In beach cities such as Hermosa, underage drinking incidents spike during the summer months when teens are out of school, and this period traditionally begins with the July 4th holiday. Last year, the city commenced increased efforts to combat excessive partying that resulted in 118 citations and 31 arrests. The same law enforcement efforts will in effect this year.

Hermosa Beach previously garnered a reputation as a party destination and attracted rowdy revelers that evoked a spring break atmosphere within the family-centric community. Now in the second year of the City’s crackdown on excessive partying, the city and its Police Department are actively showcasing their commitment to the community to provide a safe holiday weekend.

Below is a list of events occurring in the city of Hermosa Beach pertaining to strict adherence of law enforcement efforts leading up to the July 4th Holiday

June 28-29

• Hermosa Beach Police Beach Patrol Citing Underage Drinking 

June 25

Beach Cities Community Council Symposium on Underage Drinking in the Beach Cities

Hermosa Beach Community Theatre, 710 Pier Ave.,

6-8 p.m.

Hosted by Behavioral Health Services, Inc., community leaders from across the beach cities will meet to discuss the growing concern underage drinking is causing local communities. Included in the discussion will be information on 4th of July enforcement preparations being planned to prevent alcohol-fueled, youth involved violence. 

July 4 – July 6

Increased Holiday Law Enforcement Efforts

• A 35 foot Command Vehicle from the Sheriff’s Office for the city’s use at the field command post; this vehicle will be staffed with a Volunteer Reserve Deputy
• 50 deputies to supplement the departments field officers; included are field deputies, supervisors, motorcycle deputies, horse mounted deputies and a prisoner van staffed with two deputies
• Los Angeles Sheriff’s Deputies Monitoring & Responding to Social Media Conversations that promote underage drinking
• 85 Peace Officers policing the community between the hours of 9:00 AM on July 4th and 3:00 AM on July 5th
• DUI Task Force, Alcoholic Beverage Control Agents and the Los Angeles County Lifeguards have been requested to provide assistance to the City
• Strict Adherence to Underage Drinking Citations; anyone under 21 years of age caught with an open container will have their license revoked or withheld if they are not yet licensed