Full Notification

ABC Runs Decoy Operation in Attempt to Reduce Underage Drinking

Sonoma, Ca. - Agents of the California Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) along with Sonoma Police Department and Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office have cited a clerk for selling alcohol to minors on October 22, 2015. The actions were the result of a Minor Decoy Operation.

The Minor Decoy Operation involves minors who work under the direct supervision of department agents. The minors attempted to purchase alcohol from elleven retail licensees in the City of Sonoma and surrounding area.

Those who sold to the minor face a minimum fine of $250, and/or 24 to 32 hours of community service for a first violation. In addition, ABC will take administrative action against the alcoholic beverage license of the business where alcohol was sold to a minor. That may include a fine, a suspension or the permanent revocation of the license.

ABC is conducting the compliance checks statewide to reduce the availability of alcohol to minors. Statistics have shown 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. When the program first began, the violation rate of retail establishments selling to minors was as high as 40 to 50 percent. When conducted on a routine basis, the rate has dropped in some cities as low as 10 percent or even below.
In 1994, the California Supreme Court ruled unanimously that use of underage decoys is a valid tool of law enforcement to ensure that licensees are complying with the law.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) through the department’s Grant Assistance Program. ABC is a Department of the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency.


Sergeant Jason Craver
Sonoma Police Department
(707) 996-3602