OPD Conducts Enforcement to Prevent Underage Alcohol Sales
The Oakland Police Department (OPD) recently conducted a “Minor Decoy” Enforcement at 17 alcoholic beverage establishments throughout Oakland. Projects like these, help ensure liquor clerks follow laws of checking for identification to prevent alcohol sales to minors.
During the enforcement, an underage decoy successfully purchased an alcoholic beverage at one location. Alcoholic Beverage Action Team (ABAT Unit) Officer Trevor Dagenhart reported that a clerk at a major retail chain failed to request age verification or identification before selling alcohol to a minor. The clerk was cited, and the case will be referred to the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) for further investigation.
OPD continues to work at reducing alcohol sales to minors, which studies show can lead to long-term health risks. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), alcohol is the most commonly used drug among minors, and nearly 4,000 individuals under the age of 21 die from excessive alcohol use each year. Adolescents who consume alcohol are also at a higher risk of developing an alcohol use disorder in adulthood.
OPD’s targeted enforcement efforts, funded through grant resources, have proven effective in reducing alcohol sales to minors. As the holiday season approaches, OPD will conduct more enforcement efforts to continue preventing adolescents’ access to alcoholic beverages.
This project is part of ABC’s Minor Decoy/Shoulder Tap Grant Project, funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.