The
Eureka Police Department along with agents of the California
Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) conducted minor decoy
operations resulting in two citations for selling alcohol to minors
on May 14, 2024. The actions were the result of a Minor Decoy
operation in which minors under the direct supervision of department
agents, attempted to purchase alcohol from 19 retail licensees in
Eureka.
Clerks
who sell to a minor face a minimum fine of $250, and 24 to 32 hours
of community service for a first violation. In addition, ABC may take
administrative action against the alcoholic beverage license of the
business where alcohol was sold to a minor. That may include a fine,
suspension, or the permanent revocation of the license.
“Conducting
these operations helps us increase public safety as well as reduce
underage drinking.” said Chief Brian Stephens.
“Businesses
should always check IDs before selling alcohol,” said ABC Director
Joseph McCullough. “Preventing access to people not old enough to
legally purchase alcohol improves safety on our roadways and in our
communities.”
Statistics
have shown that young people under the age of 21 have a much higher
risk of being involved in a crash than older drivers. About 25
percent of fatal crashes involve underage drinking according to the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Minor
Decoy operations have been conducted by local law enforcement
throughout the state since the 1980s. When the program first began,
the violation rate of retail establishments selling to minors was as
high as 40 to 50 percent. When conducted on a routine basis, the rate
has dropped to below 10 percent in some cities. In 1994, the
California Supreme Court ruled unanimously that use of minor decoys
is a valid legal tool of law enforcement to make sure that licensees
are complying with the law.
Funding
for this program was provided by a grant from ABC through the
department’s Alcohol Policing Partnership (APP) program.
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