6 Cited In Alcohol Sting In Manhattan Beach And Hermosa Beach

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA — Six people were issued citations for allegedly buying underage kids alcohol during a recent sting involving the Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach police departments, authorities announced Thursday.

The "shoulder tap operation," which also involved the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, was conducted on June 7, Manhattan Beach Police Department Sgt. Chris Vargas said in a press release.

"During the Shoulder Tap Sting, a minor decoy, under the direct supervision of law enforcement officers, solicits adults outside ABC-licensed stores to buy the minor alcohol," Vargas said.

The minor will then tell the adult their true age and ask the adult to purchase alcohol, Vargas said. Any person providing alcohol to the minor is cited, police said.

During the operation, 54 adults were solicited by the decoys and six allegedly complied.

The goal of the operation is to "reduce underage consumption of alcohol by deterring adults from furnishing alcohol to minors outside of stores through education and enforcement," the MBPD press release said.