More than 40 citations were issued over the past year as a result of Alcohol Beverage Control grant funded operations conducted by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department.
The sheriff’s office released the results of the operations conducted during fiscal year 2018-2019 Wednesday. The sheriff’s office received $100,000 for the enhanced enforcement and education, which was aimed at preventing alcohol-related crimes in the Isla Vista and Goleta communities during events like Halloween and Deltopia, said sheriff’s spokeswoman Kelly Hoover.
“The goal is to reduce the number of alcoholic beverage sales to minors, illegal solicitations and possession of alcohol as well as other criminal activities involving alcohol consumption and abuse,” Ms. Hoover said in a statement.
The funding is used to educate both on-sale and off-sale establishments on how to operating within the restrictions of their ABC licenses.
As part of the grant, a total of nine “Minor Decoy” operations were conducted. In these scenarios, a decoy under 21 attempts to buy alcohol from businesses. During the operation, 47 restaurants and bars were visited and 67 grocery stores were contacted. Of those, 15 locations sold alcohol to the decoy. The employee that sold the alcohol was cited for the criminal violation and an administrative violation was forwarded to the Alcohol Beverage Control for license action, Ms. Hoover said.
A total of 11 “Shoulder Tap” operations were conducted, during which a minor decoy stands near a store and asks people to purchase alcohol for them. A total of 479 people were contacted, and 28 people were cited for furnishing alcohol to a minor, Ms. Hoover said.
“The Sheriff’s Office appreciates its proactive partnership with ABC to address alcohol-related issues that continue to negatively-impact the Isla Vista community and surrounding areas,” Ms. Hoover said. “The grant funding is important to increase protection for our youth by keeping alcohol away from minors and holding those who provide alcohol to minors accountable.”
