Minor Decoy Operation in Santa Maria

Source: Santa Maria Police Department

On Thursday, 06/29/2017, the Santa Maria Police Department conducted a “Minor Decoy” operation throughout the City of Santa Maria. The program is designed to reduce youth access to alcoholic beverages. These type of operations are conducted by local law enforcement throughout the state. 

During the “Minor Decoy” operation a minor decoy, under the age of 21, attempted to purchase alcoholic beverages, under the direct supervision of SMPD undercover officers. The decoy entered eight different “on-sale establishments” (Restaurants). We are happy to report that the personnel from these establishments all followed the law and asked the minor decoy his age. After being told by the minor he was under the age of 21 they all refused to sell alcohol to the minor decoy. 

SMPD scheduled this operation in response to teenagers being on summer break from school and the upcoming 4th of July Celebration. This is also message for the establishments to please check for ID before selling alcoholic beverages. These programs are intended to reduce the availability of alcoholic beverages to minors; statistics show that teens have a greater rate of drunken driving crashes than adults.

Funding for these programs was provided by the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety administration through an ABC Mini-Grant which was awarded to the Santa Maria Police Department for these types of operations.