On Aug. 20, agents from the California Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) and detectives from the La Mesa Police Department cited one clerk for selling alcohol to a minor.

The actions were a result of a minor decoy operation in which minors under the direct supervision of agents and detectives, attempted to purchase alcohol from 15 retail licensees in the general vicinity of the City of La Mesa. If a clerk sells alcohol to a minor, agents 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. In addition, ABC will take administrative action against the alcoholic beverage license of the business where alcohol was sold to a minor. That may include a fine, a suspension of the license, or the permanent revocation of the license.

This program is intended to reduce the availability of alcohol to minors. Statistics show they generally have a higher rate of drunk driving crashes than adults. Studies also show the combination of alcohol and youth tends to increase criminal conduct. According to the American Medical Association, underage drinking can increase chances of risky sexual behavior and teen pregnancy, juvenile delinquency, compromise health, and result in unintentional injury and death.

The project is part of the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control’s Minor Decoy/ Shoulder Tap Grant Project, funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. ABC is a Department of the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency.

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