SANTA MONICA—The Santa Monica Police Department conducted an undercover “Shoulder Tap” operation on Saturday, March 12 that resulted in one citation. According to a press release from Sgt. Rudy Camarena from the SMPD, the operation was in collaboration with a statewide initiative with the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

The department used a supervised, underage decoy, and the enforcement team visited a total of 4 alcohol retail establishments throughout the Santa Monica region and made a total of 53 contacts. The decoy remained outside each establishment and solicited adult patrons to act as proxies and to purchase alcohol for them. As noted, one citation for violation of Section 25658(a) of the California Business and Professions Code was given.

The Decoy Shoulder Tap operation is aimed at adults who knowingly and willingly furnish alcoholic beverages to underage individuals. The objective is to decrease substance abuse and to increase community welfare by limiting the accessibility of alcohol to underage individuals.

The project is part of the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control’s Minor Decoy/Shoulder Tap Gran Project funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.