Watsonville PD Receives State Grant To Curb Underage Drinking

WATSONVILLE, CA — The Watsonville Police Department is receiving additional state funding to help keep alcohol out of the hands of minors, the department reported Friday. The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control awarded the WPD $56,640 for the 2019-20 fiscal year. The grant marks the second consecutive year that the ABC has awarded funding to Watsonville for the prevention of underage drinking in the city.

During the 2018-19 fiscal year, WPD and ABC personnel conducted numerous operations at Watsonville businesses with an alcohol license, according to WPD. Here’s the breakdown on those operations as provided by the WPD:

—During the 12-month period, officers conducted seven "Minor Decoy Operations" targeting alcohol retailers. The stings consist of officers sending underage volunteers into businesses to try and buy alcohol. There were 149 alcohol retailers visited during the period, some of them more than once. In total, officers arrested 11 employees for selling alcohol to minors. Those arrested also faced a fine of up to $1, 000, according to the WPD.

—The WPD also conducted nine "Shoulder Tap Operations," which consist of an underage volunteer asking an adult near a licensed business to buy alcohol for them. The volunteers approached 200 people at 65 locations and 40 people were arrested, according to the WPD.

—There were also several general enforcement periods. During these operations, officers focus on people drinking alcohol in public near businesses with an alcohol license. There were 17 such operations during the period and 109 arrests, according to the WPD.

—There were also several training courses offered to business owners who sell alcohol, as well as courses on ABC laws offered to police officers, according to the department.