Oceanside, CA – On January 12, 2021, Detectives from the Oceanside Police Department’s Vice Unit conducted an Alcoholic Beverage Control operation funded by the 2020/2021 ABC Grant. Thirteen patrons were contacted during the operation with no subjects being arrested for any violations. The operation was conducted in the city of Oceanside, CA.
The Vice Unit conducted a program called a Decoy Shoulder Tap Operation which targets 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.
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.
The program is intended to reduce the availability of alcohol to minors. Statistics show they generally have a higher rate of drunk driving crashes than adults. Studies also show the combination of alcohol and youth tends to increase criminal conduct. According to the American Medical Association, underage drinking can increase chances of risky sexual behavior and teen pregnancy, juvenile delinquency, compromise health, and result in unintentional injury and death.
Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) through the department’s Grant Assistance Program.
ABC is a Department of the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency. This project is part of the Department of Alcohol Beverage Control’s Alcohol Policing Partnership Program.
