Lake Elsinore Clerk Cited In Minor 'Shoulder Tap' Operation

LAKE ELSINORE, CA — A Lake Elsinore-area sting operation led to one store clerk being cited for buying alcohol for someone under 21 years of age.

The clerk was cited for selling alcohol to minors during the "Minor Decoy Operation" and "Decoy Shoulder Tap Operation," according to Riverside County Sheriff's Department Sgt. Carlos GarciaVilla.

On Feb. 17, officers supervised minors in the sting where they attempted to purchase alcohol from five licensed retail operations in the city of Lake Elsinore, according to his report.

Deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff's Office, along with agents from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC), worked together in the sting.

Those who sold to the minor face a minimum fine of $250 and 24 to 32 hours of community service for a first violation, according to GarciaVilla.

"The ABC will take administrative action against the alcoholic beverage license of the business where alcohol was sold to a minor. That may include a fine, a suspension, or the permanent revocation of the license."

While deputies conducted the "Minor Decoy Operation," ABC agents also conducted a "Decoy Shoulder Tap Operation," targeting adults who purchase alcohol for people less than 21 years of age.

"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," the department said in the news release. "If the adults agree to purchase alcohol for the minor, agents 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.

These compliance checks are conducted statewide.

"Statistics have shown that young people under the age of 21 have a higher rate of drunken driving fatalities than the general adult population. About 25 percent of alcohol-related crashes involve underage drinking, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

"Minor Decoy operations have been conducted by local law enforcement throughout the state since the 1980s. When the program first began, the violation rate of retail establishments selling to minors was as high as 40 to 50 percent. When conducted routinely, the rate has dropped in some cities as low as 10 percent or below.
In 1994, the California Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the use of underage decoys is a valid tool for law enforcement to ensure that licensees are complying with the law.

"Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

"ABC encourages licensees to sign up for ABC's Licensee Education on Alcohol and Drugs (LEAD) training free of charge. Licensees and their employees can take the training online.

"To learn more about ABC enforcement and prevention programs that help increase public safety, visit Enforcement Programs and Prevention programs. ABC protects communities through programs designed to increase compliance with California's alcoholic beverage laws."