Crime & Safety
3 Arrested In Bay Area On Suspicion Of Buying Alcohol For Minors
The operation was part of ABC's "Decoy Shoulder Tap Program," an enforcement program that aims to decrease underage drinking.
BAY AREA, CA — Three people were arrested on Wednesday in Emeryville for allegedly buying alcohol for minors, police said.
Ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, the Emeryville Police Department and the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, or ABC, conducted an operation targeting adults who purchase alcohol for people under the age of 21.
The operation was part of ABC's "Decoy Shoulder Tap Program," an enforcement program that aims to decrease underage drinking.
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As part of the operation, a minor under the direct supervision of law enforcement stands outside a liquor or convenience store asking adults to buy them alcohol. The minor indicates to the adults that they are underage and cannot purchase alcohol.
The police department did not release the names of those arrested.
"Underage drinking harms our community," said Emeryville Police Chief Jeff Jennings in a statement. "Preventing the sale of alcohol to minors will help to increase public safety and make our roads safer."
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Adults caught purchasing alcohol for minors can face arrest and citations. The penalty for furnishing alcohol to minors in California is a minimum $1,000 fine and 24 hours of community service.
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