On Friday, June 9th, 2023, officers from the Pomona Police Department along with Agents from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) conducted a “Minor Decoy” operation to check compliance at the 18+ nightclubs within the downtown Pomona district. Minor decoy operations are undercover operations in which a minor, under the direct supervision of officers, attempts to purchase alcohol from a licensed alcohol establishment.
The team visited three 18+ nightclubs in the downtown area. Two of the establishments did a commendable job and used proper protocol as the minor decoy was denied purchasing alcohol at each establishment. A violation was obtained at one establishment and the employee was issued a citation for selling alcohol to a minor.
The following locations engaged in responsible sales of alcohol by asking for the decoy’s age, and identification and refusing to sell alcohol upon determining the minor was under 21:
- Carnaval Nightclub: 342 S. Thomas Street, Pomona
- The Basement Pomona: 300 S. Thomas Street, Pomona
The following location sold alcohol to the minor decoy and the involved employee was issued a citation:
- 340 Nightclub: 340 S. Thomas Street, Pomona.
In addition, ABC may 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.
The Minor Decoy Program has proven to be an effective tool in promoting responsible practices in the sales of alcoholic beverages by licensees, reducing substance abuse and enhancing community welfare by limiting underage access to alcohol.
Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The Pomona Police Department continues to work with the community and conduct operations like this in an effort to reduce alcohol-related harm including the availability of alcoholic beverages to minors; underage drinking, and other quality-of-life issues.
