ABC Minor Decoy Sting Nets 4 Peninsula Violations: SMC Sheriff's

SAN CARLOS, CA — San Mateo County Sheriff's, working alongside California Alcoholic Beverage Control, cited three San Carlos clerks on suspicion of selling alcohol to minors and another in Woodside accused of contributing to juvenile delinquency, the department reported Thursday.

The sting from June 1 included an ABC agent decoy set up in the two cities, along with Portola Valley where no citations were issued.

The decoy operation involved minors under the direct supervision of deputies attempting to purchase alcohol from seven retail licensees in San Carlos and 17 people contacted in Portola Valley and Woodside.

Those who sold alcohol to the minor face a minimum fine of $250 and the possibility of having to serve 32 hours of community service for a first violation. In addition, ABC will take administrative action against the alcoholic beverage license of the business where alcohol was sold to a minor.

The punishment may include a fine, license suspension or removal.

ABC is conducting the compliance checks statewide to reduce the availability of alcohol to minors.

When the program first began, the violation rate of retail establishments selling to minors was as high as 50 percent, ABC reported. The state agency has found that, when conducted on a routine basis, the rate has dropped in some cities as low as 10 percent.

In 1994, the California Supreme Court ruled unanimously that use of underage decoys is a valid tool of law enforcement to ensure that licensees are complying with the law.

Funding for this program was provided by a state ABC grant.