Minor Decoy Operation nets one violation

Officers from the Pomona Police Department have cited one gas station clerk for selling alcohol to a minor. This action was the result of a compliance check conducted on Friday, February 27th, 2015, which is commonly referred to as a Minor Decoy Operation. The Minor Decoy Operation involved an 18 year old minor, under the direction of officers, who entered 13 separate ABC licensed businesses and attempted to purchase alcohol. Of the 13 locations that were visited, 1 sold to the minor.

The clerk who sold alcohol to the minor faces a penalty of $1,000 and 32 hours of community service. In addition, ABC will take administrative action against the retail licenses of the businesses involved. This action may include a fine, suspension or the permanent revocation of the business’s liquor license.

The following locations sold to the minor decoy during this operation:

• Shell Gas Station. 2741 South Towne Ave.

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. 

Additional Information:

The Pomona Police Department recently received a grant from the Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) and the Office of Traffic Safety to conduct compliance checks city-wide in an effort to reduce the availability of alcohol to minors. Statistics show that young people under the age of 21 have a higher rate of drunken driving fatalities than the general adult population.

Minor Decoy operations have been conducted by local law enforcement throughout the state since the 1980’s. In 1994, the California Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the use of underage decoys is a valid tool for law enforcement to ensure that liquor licensees are complying with the law.