Oceanside, CA–Detectives from the Oceanside Police Department’s Vice Unit conducted a minor decoy operation on March 8 to check on compliance at off-sale alcohol retail establishments within Oceanside.
The Minor Decoy program uses supervised individuals under the age of 21, who attempt to purchase alcohol at licensed premises. Any sale of alcohol to a minor decoy may result in criminal and administrative sanctions for the employee and the licensee.
The team visited six alcohol retail establishments within Oceanside. Four of the establishments used proper protocol as the minor decoy was denied alcohol at each location. A violation was obtained at two locations and the employee was issued a citation for selling alcohol to a minor.
The following locations engaged in responsible sales of alcohol by asking for the decoy’s age, identification and refusing to sell alcohol upon determining the minor was under 21: The 7-Eleven – 420 North Coast Highway, Circle K – 1801 South Coast Highway, Ralphs Grocery Store -101 Old Grove Road, Milano’s Liquor – 3846 Mission Avenue, Pappy’s Market – 601 North Cleveland Street, and Shell Gas Station – 1501 North Melrose Drive.
The Minor Decoy Program is an effective tool in promoting responsible practices in the sales of alcoholic beverages by licensees, reducing substance abuse and enhancing community welfare by limiting underage access to alcohol,
The project is part of the Department of Alcohol Beverage Control’s Alcohol Policing Partnership Program.
