On 7-31-2014, Officers of the Redding Police Department conducted a Shoulder Tap operation in the City Of Redding. Officers were assisted by an Agent from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.
Redding Police were recently awarded a grant form the California Alcoholic Beverage Control in the amount of $40,000. The Grant funding will allow officers to utilize various methods to reduce the availability of alcoholic beverages to persons under 21 years of age. The grant will also target problem premises that have alcoholic beverage licenses and target alcohol related crimes within the city. The grant funding is for the fiscal year beginning 7-1-2014 and ending on 6-30-2015.
A Decoy Shoulder Tap Operation targets adults who purchase alcohol for people less than 21 years of age. Under the program, a minor under the direct supervision of a peace officer will stand outside a liquor or convenience store and ask patrons to buy them alcohol. The minor indicates in some way he or she is underage and cannot purchase the alcohol.
If the adults agree to purchase alcohol for the minor, Officers then arrest and cite them for furnishing alcohol to the minor. The penalty for furnishing alcohol to a minor is a minimum $1000 fine and 24 hours of community service.
The program is intended to reduce the availability of alcohol to minors. Statistics show they generally have a higher rate of drunk driving crashes than adults. Studies also show the combination of alcohol and youth tends to increase criminal conduct. According to the American Medical Association, underage drinking can increase chances of risky sexual behavior and teen pregnancy, juvenile delinquency, compromise health, and result in unintentional injury and death.
The decoy visited 7 licensed premises and asked approximately 25 adults to purchase alcoholic beverages. No one agreed to purchase alcoholic beverages for the decoy.
Officers also conducted general enforcement patrols in the Hilltop Dr. business corridor, South City park and Downtown areas. This General Enforcement resulted in 6 persons being cited for having open containers of alcoholic beverages in city parks, 1 person was cited for possession of an open container of alcohol in the parking lot of an ABC licensed premise. Officers also arrested two persons for outstanding arrest warrants.
Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) through the department’s Grant Assistance Program.
ABC is a Department of the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency.
– Press Release