By SDCN Editor

North San Diego County–The San Diego County Sheriff‘s Department is partnering with the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) through a countywide grant to help prevent underage drinking and other crimes that may occur at the agency’s licensed establishments.

On March 12,  Sheriff’s deputies, along with agents from ABC and three minor decoys conducted a Shoulder Tap Operation at various locations in Solana Beach and Encinitas. The operation was part of an ABC Statewide Shoulder Tap operation with many law enforcement agencies.

The Shoulder Tap operation was conducted in front of six local retail liquor stores where a teenager asked adults to purchase the teen alcohol. Twenty-three adults total were contacted. One adult purchased alcohol for the minor.

The goal of the ABC Alcohol Policing Partnership Program is to collaborate with local law enforcement agencies to help make communities safer. The cooperative efforts of the Sheriff’s Department and ABC are aimed at building positive working relationships between all stakeholders and increasing the safety of San Diego County.

ABC-related operations such as Shoulder Tap help reduce alcohol abuse and youth access to alcohol.  Operations like these will continue through June 2022.

Anyone with information on licensed liquor establishments providing alcohol to minors can remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477, or by calling the Sheriff’s Department’s non-emergency line at (858) 565-5200.