Buying Booze For Minors: 3 Cited In Novato Sting: Police

NOVATO, CA – The Novato Police Department on Saturday cited three people as part of a "shoulder tap" operation aimed at stopping adults from illegally buying alcohol for minors, according to authorities.

Officers joined the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control in part of a statewide sweep that included four stores in the Novato area, the department said.

In such operations, decoys tell customers entering the stores they are underage, and ask the customers to buy alcohol for them, while officials wait nearby. The goal is to raise awareness about the danger of underage drinking and also make it clear to any adults that buy alcohol for minors that there are serious consequences.

On Saturday in Novato, the decoy contacted a total of 18 people as part of the operation, and ultimately cited three people on suspicion of furnishing alcohol to a minor, police said.

The suspects were released after being issued notices to appear in Marin County Court for furnishing alcohol to a minor, police said.

The penalty for furnishing alcohol to a minor is a minimum $1,000 fine and 24 hours of community service, officials said.

Funding for the operation, provided by the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, allows communities to increase compliance with alcohol laws through education and enforcement.

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