Monterey County Crackdown on Underage Drinking Leads to Multiple Citations
MONTEREY COUNTY, CA — The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, in collaboration with agents from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC), carried out enforcement actions on March 15 and 16, 2025, to curb underage access to alcohol. These operations, part of ongoing efforts to enforce alcohol laws, included a “Shoulder Tap” and a “Minor Decoy” operation.
On March 15, a controlled operation involved a minor asking adults outside various liquor and convenience stores across Monterey County to purchase alcohol on their behalf. The minor explicitly stated they were underage. Despite approaching over 40 adults, no alcohol was purchased for the minor during this phase of the operation.
The following day, minors attempted to buy alcohol directly from establishments on the Monterey Peninsula and in the City of Salinas. This resulted in two servers being cited for unlawfully serving alcohol to minors. These individuals now face a minimum fine of $1,000 and 24 hours of community service. Additionally, the businesses involved may face administrative actions from ABC, ranging from fines to potential suspension or revocation of their licenses.
Sheriff Tina Nieto praised the community’s efforts in refusing to buy alcohol for minors, reflecting a commitment to responsible behavior. However, Nieto also emphasized the need for continuous vigilance from local businesses to prevent alcohol sales to underage individuals.
These operations, funded by a grant from ABC’s Alcohol Policing Partnership program, aim to enhance safety and reduce underage drinking, which is a significant factor in vehicular accidents among youth. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about 25 percent of fatal crashes involve underage drinking, highlighting the importance of such enforcement actions.
