San Jose Taps Fresh Grant To Fund Youth Alcohol Prevention Work

SAN JOSE, CA — New grant money awarded by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control and Office of Traffic Safety will keep San Jose's vice unit funded to conduct operations targeting those who provide alcohol to minors.

The police department said the grant money helps pay for minor decoy operations, "shoulder taps, IMPACT checks and holiday DUI enforcement campaigns.

"These operations are meant to bring public awareness to the negative impacts of youth access to alcohol while identifying problem businesses in the city," the department said. "SJPD is taking a proactive approach to solving alcohol access among youth and also encourages its citizens to report problem businesses in their community."

One operation funded by the grant led to the arrests of two suspects accused of furnishing alcohol to minors Wednesday. Utilizing a "shoulder tap," investigators enlist minors to stand outside liquor and convenience stores to ask adults to buy them alcohol. People caught buying alcohol for underage people are subject to a minimum fine of $1,000 and 24 hours of community service.