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Emeryville Police Dept. and ABC Agents Arrest One Suspects for Furnishing Alcohol to Minors

Emeryville – The Emeryville Police Department and agents from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) arrested one suspect on November 11th, 2024 for furnishing alcoholic beverages to minors. The arrests were the result of a Shoulder Tap operation conducted in Emeryville.

Shoulder Tap operations target adults who purchase alcohol for underage people. A minor, under the direct supervision of a peace officer, stands outside a liquor or convenience store and asks patrons to buy them alcohol. The minor indicates in some way, they are underage and cannot purchase the alcohol.

If an adult agrees to purchase alcohol for an underage person, agents can arrest and cite them for furnishing alcohol to a minor. The penalty for furnishing alcohol to a minor is a minimum $1,000 fine and 24 hours of community service.

“Underage drinking harms our community. Never buy alcohol for a minor,” said Chief Jeff Jennings.

“We perform these operations to keep alcohol out of the hands of our youth,” said ABC Director Joseph McCullough. “By preventing underage drinking, we can increase the quality of life in our communities and reduce drunk driving crashes.”

Statistics show minors have a higher rate of drunk driving crashes than adults. About 25 percent of alcohol-related crashes involve underage drinking, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). According to the American Medical Association, underage drinking can also increase chances of risky sexual behavior and teen pregnancy, juvenile delinquency, compromise health, and result in unintentional injury and death.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from Office of Traffic Safety through National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

About the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control

The Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) is an agency of the government of the state of California charged with the regulation of alcoholic beverages. ABC’s mission is to provide the highest level of service and public safety to the people of California through licensing, education, and enforcement. ABC is a department of the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency.