SAN DIEGO–San Diego police officers conducted Saturday an operation called Minor Decoy which targets businesses that sell or furnish alcohol to people less than 21 years of age.
One person was arrested for selling alcoholic beverages to a minor. The operation was conducted in the general vicinity of the Morena, Kearny Mesa and Midway areas of San Diego.
Under the program, a minor under the direct supervision of a police officer, will enter a liquor or convenience store and attempt to buy alcohol.
If the clerk sells alcohol to the minor, officers arrest and cite them for furnishing alcohol to the minor. The business is also subject to penalties through Alcohol Beverage Control.
The program is intended to reduce the availability of alcohol to minors. Statistics show they generally have a higher rate of drunken driving collisions 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.
The 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.
