ABC Statewide Shoulder Tap Decoy Operation Took Place March 14th

Statewide – The Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) teamed up with 57 law enforcement agencies throughout the state in an operation that netted 164 citations on March 14, 2026.

Shoulder Tap operations focus on adults who purchase alcohol for people under the age of 21. The statewide effort’s goal is to raise awareness about the dangers of underage drinking and the potential legal repercussions on those who supply minors with alcohol.

“ABC’s coordinated efforts this weekend with California law enforcement agencies resulted in a major success in raising awareness about underage drinking,” said ABC Director Paul Tupy. “These partnerships play a critical role in improving public safety and keeping alcohol out of the hands of young people across the state.”

During a Shoulder Tap operation, minors supervised by law enforcement stand outside stores that sell alcohol and ask customers to make a purchase for them. The minor says they are underage and cannot purchase the alcohol. Adults who agree may be arrested and cited for furnishing alcohol to a minor.

The purpose of the operation is to keep alcohol out of the hands of underage individuals. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, car crashes are the leading cause of death for teens. In 2023, 30% of young drivers 15 to 20 years old who were killed in crashes had BACs of .01 g/dL or higher.

The operation resulted in citations for 155 individuals who allegedly furnished alcoholic beverages to minors. At least nine other individuals were cited for being in possession of an open container or other infractions. The operation demonstrates the serious consequences for adults that buy alcohol for minors. The penalty for furnishing alcohol to a minor is a minimum $1,000 fine and 24 hours of community service.

The local operations were funded by ABC’s Alcohol Policing Partnership program and the California Office of Traffic Safety through NHTSA.

Contact

Additional information may be obtained by contacting:

Public Information Office
3927 Lennane Drive, Suite 100
Sacramento, CA 95834
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (916) 419-2525

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