Statewide law enforcement crackdown to reduce sale of alcohol to minors

More than 70 law enforcement agencies partnered with the Alcohol Beverage Control to crackdown on individuals willing to buy alcohol for minors.

This is the 7th annual statewide “Shoulder Tap” operation. This year Capitola Police Department participated in hopes of getting the message across that it is not okay to provide alcohol to minors. “I don’t know how many times we’ve heard about minors being involved in DUI’s or fatal collisions so the real goal is to make sure that we’re doing the best we can to reduce the access that minors have to alcoholic beverages. Just one person can make a difference because you never know what’s going to happen,” says Sgt. Marquis Booth.

During the operation decoys go to different liquor stores asking individuals to buy them beer. If that person agrees and follows through, they are cited and fined and can even face jail time.

According to the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control 2,791 individuals have been cited or arrested over the past six years.