Sonoma Police can’t find anyone to buy alcohol for underage decoys

Underage ‘drinkers’ come back emptyhanded in police operation|

On a Thursday evening last month, the Sonoma Police Department, in conjunction with Agents from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, conducted an undercover decoy operation. They visited three retail establishments and made what they call 35 “contacts” to get unsuspecting shoppers to buy alcohol for underage customers.

Nobody bit. There were no violations or citations, and those kids had to go home empty-handed.

The operation was part of a recurring program called Decoy Shoulder Tap, intended to reduce the availability of alcohol to minors. 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, officers then arrest and cite them for furnishing alcohol to the minor. The penalty for furnishing alcohol to a minor is a misdemeanor, with a minimum $1000 fine and 24 hours of community service.

The enforcement team visited 3 alcohol retail establishments in the Sonoma Valley area and City of Sonoma. A total of 35 contacts were made during the operation and no violations occurred.

This operation was funded by the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control through the Department’s Grant Assistance Program (GAP).

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