Agents from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) and deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office cited four individuals during ABC’s statewide Shoulder Tap operation on March 15 in the cities of Lake Elsinore and Wildomar for furnishing alcoholic beverages to minors. This enforcement operation is designed to create awareness about the dangers of underage drinking throughout California and keep communities safe.
A Shoulder Tap operation focuses on adults who purchase alcohol for persons under the age of 21. A minor under the direct supervision of law enforcement stands outside of a liquor or convenience store and asks customers to buy them alcohol. The minor also indicates they are underage and cannot purchase alcohol.
If an adult agrees to purchase alcohol for the minor, they can be arrested and cited. The penalty for furnishing alcohol to a minor is a minimum $1,000 fine and 24 hours of community service.
“We conduct these operations to keep alcohol out of the hands of our youth,” ABC Director Joseph McCullough said. “By preventing underage drinking, we can increase the quality of life in our communities and reduce DUIs.”
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).
