City of Irvine Police Department
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, PRESS RELEASE #3/18/2014
Subject: Four Adults Cited for Furnishing Alcohol to Minors
Contact : Julia Engen, Lieutenant, 949-724-7112, jengen@cityofirvine.org
IRVINE, CA (March 17, 2014): On Saturday, March 15, Irvine Police Detectives participated in a statewide enforcement effort coordinated by the California Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) called a “Decoy Shoulder Tap Operation.” The program is intended to reduce the availability of alcohol to minors (persons under the age of 21).
During the operation, detectives supervised two 18-year-old, volunteers as they asked patrons walking in to a licensed alcohol sales location to purchase alcohol for them. In each case, the volunteer told the patron they were under the legal drinking age and that they wanted the patron to purchase the alcohol on their behalf. If the patron agreed to purchase alcohol for the volunteer, officers then issued a citation for furnishing alcohol to the minor (under 21). The penalty for furnishing alcohol to a minor is a minimum $1000 fine and 24 hours of community service.
The operation was conducted at two different Irvine locations and a total of 25 customers were approached. Four adults furnished alcohol to the underage volunteer and were issued citations. One additional citation was also issued to a minor (under 18 years old) in possession of tobacco.
According to the American Medical Association, underage drinking can increase risky behavior, contribute to juvenile delinquency, compromise health and result in unintentional injury and death.
This operation was conducted as part of the pledged enforcement activities funded by the 1-year ABC Grant awarded to the Irvine Police Department in July 2013.
###