75k Awarded To SMC Sheriff's Office To Crackdown On Businesses Who Sell To Minors

SAN MATEO COUNTY, CA — The sheriff's office received a $75,000 grant to reduce underage drinking in San Mateo County, police announced Friday.

The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control awarded the grant to the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office.

“This grant will increase resources and help improve public safety, while addressing problem locations who illegally sell alcohol to our youth,” said Sheriff Christina Corpus. “For us, it’s not just about enforcement. It’s about proactively informing our youth about the safety risks associated with underage drinking, especially when combined with getting behind the wheel.”

The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors approved a grant agreement on Tuesday. This grant is part of almost 50 awarded across California to local law enforcement agencies through the Alcohol Policing Partnership program, run by ABC.

The Sheriff's Office, in partnership with ABC personnel, will conduct specialized enforcement through June 2026.

This collaboration aims to reduce youth access to alcohol from licensed establishments, decrease alcohol-related crimes and disturbances, and address specific locations where alcohol contributes to criminal activity, public disorder and traffic offenses, police said.

The initiative will also focus on reducing service calls to establishments, educating licensed merchants on alcohol laws and informing the community about the risks of irresponsible alcohol consumption, police said.