LAPD/ABC Target Adults Furnishing Alcohol to Minors

LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
Friday, June 18, 1999
LAPD/ABC Target Adults Furnishing Alcohol to Minors

The Los Angeles Police Department, assisted by the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC), will be targeting adults during the month of June who furnish alcoholic beverages to people under 21 years of age. The two agencies will be conducting "Shoulder Tap" operations in which a minor decoy, under the direct supervision of police officer, will attempt to get adults to purchase him/her alcoholic beverages.

ABC Director Jay Stroh said, "These operations are designed to reduce the number of deaths and injuries due to teen drunk driving. Furnishing alcohol to a minor is a serious offense."

The State Legislature passed a law in 1998 which increased the penalty for furnishing liquor to underage persons. An adult who furnishes alcohol to a minor faces a $1,000 fine and a minimum 24 hours of community service. A law that became effective in January of 1999 says any adult who furnishes alcohol to a minor, who then injures or kills him or herself, or any others, results in the furnisher facing a minimum six months in the county jail, by a fine of up to $1,000, or both imprisonment and a fine.

The LAPD is timing the decoy "Shoulder Tap" operations with the upcoming high school graduations. It is anticipated the number of underage individuals attempting to solicit alcoholic beverages from adults will increase.

Recent "Shoulder Tap" operations conducted in the Wilshire and West Valley Areas indicate that between 50 and 60 percent of adults approached outside local liquor and convenience stores will accommodate an under-aged individual’s request for an alcoholic beverage. To combat this trend and disseminate a message that the Los Angeles Police Department will actively prosecute any adult who furnishes a minor with an alcoholic beverage, two Bureau-wide "Shoulder Tap Operations" have been scheduled.

Scheduled operations:

June 18, 1999
Operations-West Bureau
Hollywood Area
Pacific Area
West Los Angeles Area
Wilshire Area June 25, 1999

Operations-Valley Bureau
Devonshire Area
Foothill Area
North Hollywood Area
Van Nuys Area
West Valley Area

It is believed that the above operations will greatly reduce the amount of alcoholic beverages which are readily available to under-aged individuals which will impact a myriad of alcohol related crimes as well as DUI related traffic collisions.

For Release 1:30 pm PST
June 18, 1999