Full Notification

On Saturday, June 26, 2021, Novato Police issued one citation to an individual at a business for furnishing alcoholic beverages to a minor within the City of Novato. The decoys went into several other stores to purchase alcohol and were turned down when questioned about their age or when their ID was checked.

The Novato Police Department works with the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) and conduct programs involving minor decoys who enter businesses with an underage ID and try to purchase alcohol. This program holds any adults accountable, who allow minors to purchase alcohol. ABC is a department of the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency and protects communities through education & prevention programs designed to increase compliance with California’s alcoholic beverage laws.

The program permits a minor to enter businesses and provide store clerks with an underage ID, under the direct supervision of a peace officer. If the clerk allows the minor to purchase alcohol, officers then issue a citation for furnishing alcohol to a minor. The penalty for furnishing alcohol to a minor is a minimum $1000 fine and 24 hours of community service. 

The goals of the program are to reduce the availability of alcohol to minors, raise public awareness about the problem, and change the community norms regarding such behavior. Statistically, adolescent drivers are involved in a higher number of DUI collisions than adult drivers. According to the American Medical Association, underage drinking can increase chances of risky sexual behavior, teen pregnancy, juvenile delinquency, compromise health, and result in unintentional injury and death. 

We would like to thank the business owners and community members who help prevent underage drinking. As more youth social events continue throughout the summer, parents are encouraged to discuss the consequences of drinking with their children. As a reminder, do not provide alcohol to teens or their friends at parties or social events, even under a parent’s supervision.

This project is part of the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control’s Minor Decoy/Shoulder Tap Grant Project, funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).