Long Beach Liquor Store Caught Selling Alcohol To Minors

LONG BEACH, CA — A liquor store clerk in Long Beach was caught selling alcohol to an underage person as part of an undercover operation, police said Monday.

The Long Beach Police Department tasked underage people — "under the direct supervision" of detectives — to attempt to buy alcohol from 19 stores in the city as part of an operation last month, the department announced.

A clerk from one store was cited on Sept. 12 for selling alcohol to a minor, police said.

Neither the names of the store nor the clerk were released by authorities.

“Businesses should always check IDs before selling alcohol,” California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control Director Joseph McCullough said in a statement. “Preventing access to people not old enough to legally purchase alcohol improves safety on our roadways and in our communities.”

Those who sell alcohol to minors face a fine of $250 and community service for a first violation and state authorities may take administrative action against the owner or operator that could include license suspension, police said.