City of El Centro Cracks Down on Illegal Alcohol Sales to Minors in Shoulder Tap Operation

Four individuals were arrested in El Centro on July 28 during a law enforcement operation targeting adults who provide alcohol to minors. The arrests were the result of a joint effort by the El Centro Police Department and agents from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) as part of a Shoulder Tap enforcement operation.

The operation involved a minor, working under the direct supervision of law enforcement, standing outside a local liquor or convenience store and requesting that adults purchase alcohol on their behalf. The minor clearly indicated they were underage and unable to legally purchase alcohol.

If an adult agreed to make the purchase, they were immediately contacted by law enforcement and cited for furnishing alcohol to a minor. The offense carries a minimum fine of $1,000 and 24 hours of mandatory community service.

“Underage drinking harms our community. Never buy alcohol for a minor,” said Interim El Centro Police Chief Kelly Brown.

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

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), approximately 25 percent of alcohol-related vehicle crashes involve underage drinkers. The American Medical Association also reports that underage drinking increases the risk of unintentional injury, teen pregnancy, juvenile delinquency, and other health-related issues.

This enforcement effort was conducted as part of ABC’s Minor Decoy/Shoulder Tap Grant Project. The project is funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety through a grant from the NHTSA.