On Wednesday April 6th, 2016, the Bakersfield Police Department Vice Unit conducted a minor decoy operation to suppress the sale of alcoholic beverages to minors at establishments licensed by the Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC). 

During the operation twelve businesses with an ABC license were visited. Of the business visited one clerk was issued a citation for violation of Business and Professions Code Section 25658(a) sell/furnish an alcoholic beverage to a minor. The penalty for furnishing alcohol to a minor is a minimum $1000 fine and 24 hours of community service. 

The program is intended to reduce the availability of alcohol to minors. Statistics show they generally have a higher rate of drunken driving crashes than adults. Studies also show the combination of alcohol and youth tends to increase criminal conduct. According to the American Medical Association, underage drinking can increase chances of risky sexual behavior and teen pregnancy, juvenile delinquency, compromise health, and result in unintentional injury and death. 

This project is part of the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control’s Education and Teen Alcohol Enforcement Program Grant, funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.