Full Notification

The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department, working alongside agents with the California Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC), have cited four clerks for selling alcohol to minors back on February 26, 2021. The actions were the result of a minor decoy operation in which minors, under the direct supervision of department deputies, attempted to purchase alcohol from 17 different retail licensees in Stanislaus County. These included businesses in the city of Waterford, Hughson, and the unincorporated community of Empire.

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 of the license, 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 agencies 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 to as low as ten-percent or even lower.

In 1994, the California Supreme Court ruled unanimously that use of underage decoys is a valid tool for law enforcement officers and helps to ensure licensees are complying with the law.

ABC protects communities through education, prevention, and enforcement programs designed to increase compliance with California’s alcoholic beverage laws.

ABC encourages licensees to sign up for ABC’s Licensee Education on Alcohol and Drugs (LEAD) training free of charge. Licensees and their employees can now take the training online. They can also sign up for training in-person in a more traditional classroom environment.

To learn more about ABC enforcement and prevention programs that can help increase public safety visit:

Enforcement programs
Prevention programs

For further information please contact:
Deputy Patrick McCulloch
[email protected]
(209) 869 7162
#AlcoholPolicingPartnerships