NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                            CONTACT: Lt. Bode Berreth

DATE: September 8, 2021                               PHONE: 760-839-4444

ESCONDIDO POLICE CONDUCTS MINOR DECOY OPERATION

On 9/07/2021, the Escondido Police Department conducted a Minor Decoy Operation. Minor Decoy Operations involve minors who work under the direct supervision of department agents and attempt to purchase alcohol from an ABC licensed business. These types of operations are part of a program utilized by ABC and local law enforcement agencies used to reduce the availability of alcohol to minors. State law prohibits the furnishing of alcohol to a minor, which is a misdemeanor violation of Business & Professions Code 25658(a). The following results are from Tuesday’s operation:

• 6 ABC licensed locations visited
• 2 Businesses furnished alcohol to minors were cited for B&P 25658(a)

Minor Decoy operations have been conducted by local law enforcement throughout the state since the 1980’s. When the program first began, the violation rate of retail establishments selling to minors was as high as 40 to 50 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.

This project is part of the Department of Alcohol Beverage Control’s Minor Decoy/Shoulder Tap Grant Project.

Please follow the police department via Facebook at www.facebook.com/EscondidoPolice and Twitter and Instagram (@EscondidoPolice). Text EscondidoPD to 888777 for community alerts from Nixle

To report any suspicious activities in your neighborhood, you may contact the Police Department directly, or you may make an unidentified call on our “Anonymous Tip Line” at (760) 743-TIPS (8477) or via our Web site at police.escondido.org.

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