Full Notification

Ten out of ten Sebastopol businesses sell alcohol to minors during
Educational decoy compliance checks.

On the evening of 5/12/18 the Sebastopol Police Department conducted Educational Minor Decoy Compliance Checks at ten Sebastopol alcohol establishments. This operation utilized a minor decoy who attempted to purchase alcohol using a borrowed ID that was markedly different in facial and other characteristics than the minor decoy.

Results show that 10 out of 10 employees of Sebastopol businesses sold alcohol to the decoy. Of the ten employees who sold, only two employees had previously participated in Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) training. No arrests were made as the compliance checks were educational in nature.

Sebastopol’s Responsible Alcoholic Beverage Sales and Service Ordinance (#1104), passed on September 5, 2017, mandates participation in RBS training for licensees (owners), managers, and employees who sell or serve alcohol, and security staff. The ordinance states that new employees need to participate in RBS training with 90 days of being hired.

The Sebastopol Police Department will be conducting inspections to ensure compliance with the Responsible Alcoholic Beverage Sales and Service Ordinance.

Educational Compliance Checks are funded by the Sonoma County Department of Health Services (DHS) who also offers RBS training in various locations in Sonoma County, including Sebastopol.

Upcoming RBS training held at the Sebastopol Police Department:

• June 20th (12:30pm – 4:30pm) – designed for employees and security staff
• June 27 (9:00am – 11:00am) – designed for licensees and manager

For more information regarding the operation, or for information regarding RBS training, contact Environmental Coordinator Diane Davis at 707-829-4400.