SANTA MARIA, Calif. — Officers from the Santa Maria Police Department and agents frm the California Department of Alcholic Beverage Control (ABC) conducted a "minor decoy" operation Saturday in an effort to reduce access to alcoholic beverages for minors.
The 17 year old decoy entered five liquor stores and four restaurants in Santa Maria and attempted to purchase alcoholic beverages while under supervision of SMPD and ABC officers.
SMPD says a server from 805 Tacos and a server from Taqueria Salsa Brava sold an alcoholic beverage to the minor.
The two servers were cited for selling the beverage and the restaurants could face administrative action through the ABC.
The penalty for serving alcohol to a minor is a minimum $1,000 fine and 24 hours of community service.
SMPD says some of the restaurants they visited as part of this operation were visited due to "ongoing issues."
SMPD is able to conduct these decoy operations as part of $79,292 grant they received from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control's Policing Partnership.
The grant runs from July 2019 through June 2020 and officers plan to use the funds for Shoulder Tap Operations, Minor Decoy Operations, COPS in SHOPS Operations, and IMPACT Inspections within the city of Santa Maria and Guadalupe.
The public is encouraged to provide tips to SMPD Officer Matt Jensen on any establishments that could be violating ABC laws and regulations. His number is (805) 928-3781 ext . 1233.
