Four Temecula Businesses Busted for Selling Alcohol to Minors in 'Decoy' Operation

On April 3, 2014, members of the Temecula Police Department Problem Oriented Policing Team (POP) in collaboration with California Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) investigators conducted an undercover Minor Decoy operation.

During the Minor Decoy operation, twenty-seven off-sale liquor stores were selected.  Four stores sold alcohol to an underage decoy.  

The other twenty-three stores were found to be in compliance.  

Those who sold to the decoys face a minimum fine of $250, and/or 24 to 32 hours of community service for a first violation.  In addition, ABC will take administrative action against the alcoholic beverage license of the business.  That may include a fine, a suspension of the license, or the permanent revocation of the license.

The Temecula Police Department is conducting these alcohol-related compliance checks to reduce the availability of alcohol to minors in the community.  Statistics have shown that young people under the age of 21 have a higher rate of drunken driving fatalities than the general adult population.  The Temecula Police Department would like to congratulate the off-sale liquor establishments who refuse service of alcohol to minors in the community.

This project is part of the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control’s Minor Decoy/Shoulder Tap Grant Project, funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  Anyone with questions about the program can contact Sergeant Chris Gaskins of the Temecula Police Department at (951) 696-3128.