ABC Awarded Grant to Reduce Underage Drinking and Alcohol-Related Harm in California

Sacramento – The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) announced today it has been awarded a $3.7 million grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to help curb underage drinking and educate licensees about alcoholic beverage laws.

Grant funding will also support 26 local law enforcement agencies with up to $40,000 each for alcoholic beverage compliance check operations for licensees and delivery services to make sure only people of legal drinking age purchase alcohol, as well as enforcement throughout the state during holiday periods where people are more likely to be drinking alcohol.

“ABC is grateful for the partnership and support from OTS and NHTSA,” said ABC Director Joseph McCullough. “The resources provided to us through this grant will help reduce youth access to alcohol and increase safety in communities throughout California.”

The grant will run through the end of September 2024. ABC programs funded through the grant include Minor Decoy and Shoulder Tap operations, fake identification enforcement, compliance checks involving alcohol delivery services, designated special events where alcohol is served, underage retail theft, Informed Merchants Preventing Alcohol-Related Crime Tendency (IMPACT) inspections, Licensee Education on Alcohol and Drug (LEAD) trainings and Target Responsibility for Alcohol-Connected Emergencies (TRACE) investigations.

The local law enforcement agencies who have been selected by ABC to receive grant funding are as follows:

• Corona Police Department
• Costa Mesa Police Department
• Davis Police Department
• Emeryville Police Department
• Escondido Police Department
• Folsom Police Department
• Gardena Police Department
• Hermosa Beach Police Department
• Hollister Police Department
• Lakeport Police Department
• Milpitas Police Department
• National City Police Department
• Oxnard Police Department
• Pasadena Police Department
• Pomona Police Department
• Redlands Police Department
• Rio Del Police Department
• Riverside County Sheriff’s Office – Lake Elsinore Station
• San Jose Police Department
• San Luis Obispo Police Department
• Sanger Police Department
• Santa Maria Police Department
• Soledad Police Department
• Tulare County Sheriff’s Office
• Turlock Police Department
• Westminster Police Department

To learn more about ABC programs that help protect communities, prevent alcohol-related harm, and save lives, visit ABC’s website to learn more about education, prevention, and enforcement.

Contact

Additional information may be obtained by contacting:

Public Information Office
3927 Lennane Drive, Suite 100
Sacramento, CA 95834
Email: pio@abc.ca.gov
Phone: (916) 419-2525

Follow ABC on Twitter
Follow ABC on Facebook