On March 11, 2017, officers from the Santa Monica Police Department
(SMPD) joined forces with law enforcement agencies throughout California in a Statewide
Shoulder Tap Operation Day. The operation utilized a decoy, under the age of 21 and
supervised by an enforcement team, to assist in the operation. Underage Decoy Shoulder Tap
operations are focused on adults who knowingly furnish alcoholic beverages to minors. The
goal is to reduce substance abuse and enhance community welfare by limiting underage
access to alcoholic beverages. The penalty for furnishing alcohol to a minor is a minimum
$1000 fine and/or 24 hours of community service.
The enforcement team visited 4 Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) licensed retail establishments
in the city of Santa Monica. The decoy remained outside of the establishments and solicited
77 adult patrons to act as proxies to purchase alcohol on their behalf. During the operation,
one misdemeanor citation for furnishing a minor with alcohol was issued.
This operation 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.
