Full Notification

The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department utilized a grant funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety, & the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, to conduct a “Minor Decoy” operation.

Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department Deputies cited one clerk for selling alcohol to minors on April 40, 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 22 retail licensees in Stanislaus County. These included businesses in the city of Patterson and unincorporated area of Westley and Grayson.

Those who sell to a minor face a minimum fine of $250, and/or 24 to 32-hours of community service for a first violation. In addition, the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) is administering the current OTS/NHTSA grant program funding Stanislaus County alcohol-related operations. ABC has authority to 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 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%. When conducted on a routine basis, the rate has dropped in some cities to as low as ten percent or lower.  

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.  

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 classroom setting. 

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

Enforcement programs

Prevention programs