The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department joined forces with hundreds of law enforcement agencies for a Shoulder Tap operation across California on Saturday, March 9th.
Deputies and Agents with the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) conducted the sweep from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the Vista area.
“Shoulder Tap” is shorthand for teenagers hanging out in front of liquor or convenience stores and asking patrons entering the business to buy alcohol for them.
During the pitch, the decoy indicates that he or she is a minor and cannot purchase. Undercover deputies and ABC agents wait nearby, ready to arrest people who buy or sell alcohol for the teens.
The decoys visited six stores and made 27 contacts in Vista. Saturday’s operation resulted in four citations for furnishing alcohol to a minor.
Buying or providing alcohol to someone under 21 is against the law in California. If you are convicted, you could face up to six months in jail, a minimum fine of $1,000 and 24 hours of community service.
The goal of the Shoulder Tap operation is to reduce the availability of alcohol to minors, as well as preventing impaired driving crashes by arresting/citing adults who furnish alcohol to minors.
This operation is part of a $100,000 grant from ABC. The money will be used to fight alcohol-related crimes and educate ABC-licensed businesses to make communities safer.
