File photo of the HSU entrance sign on Sunset Avenue after a student who’d been drinking plowed through it in 2016.

Humboldt State University press release: 

University Police assisted agents from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) and officers from more than 70 local police and sheriff’s departments during a statewide underage drinking enforcement operation designed to create awareness of underage drinking and also protect California’s youth while increasing public safety.

Officers arrested or cited 364 individuals during the statewide operation. There were citations for 286 individuals who allegedly provided alcoholic beverages to minors. Twenty-six were cited for open containers and 52 were either cited or taken into custody for various crimes such as outstanding warrants, illegal drugs, public drunkenness, or DUI.

UPD Sergeant Janelle Jackson worked with ABC Agent Bret Ajax during the statewide “Decoy Shoulder Tap” efforts. During the operation, officers visited numerous licensed premises in Arcata and McKinleyville. One person was cited for providing alcohol to a minor. Two others were arrested and booked at the Humboldt County Correctional Facility for numerous charges.

Under Decoy Shoulder Tap, a minor supervised by a peace officer stands outside a liquor or convenience store and asks 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, and purchase alcohol for the minor, officers then arrest and cite them for furnishing alcohol to the minor. The penalty for furnishing alcohol to a minor is a minimum $1,000 fine and 24 hours of community service. The program is intended to reduce the availability of alcohol to minors.

The goal of the operation was to raise awareness about the dangers of underage drinking and make it clear to adults who buy alcohol for minors that there are serious consequences. The operation was also an effort to build safer and stronger communities by holding individuals accountable for illegal activity that creates harm.
“Unfortunately over 4,000 young people die in alcohol-related tragedies every year in this country,” said ABC Director Jacob Appelsmith. “This collaborative effort among California peace officers creates awareness to underage drinking issues, increases public safety for communities, and also boosts protections for California’s young people.”

Many of today’s local operations were funded by the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control through the department’s Grant Assistance Program, and some were funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

About the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control
ABC protects communities through excellence in education and by administering prevention and enforcement programs designed to increase compliance with California’s alcoholic beverage laws.
ABC’s mission is to provide the highest level of service and public safety through licensing, education, and enforcement. To learn more about ABC programs that help protect communities, prevent alcohol-related harm and potentially save lives visit https://www.abc.ca.gov/programs/programs_PE.html. ABC is a department of the California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency.