BANNING, CA — Two people were arrested and cited during a law enforcement sting in Banning that targeted people who buy booze for minors.
The Banning Police Department and the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control conducted the May 3 operation using a decoy who was under age 21.
Standing outside of a retail store, the decoy asked patrons to buy alcohol as undercover law enforcement watched. The minor indicated they were underage and unable to purchase alcohol, according to Banning police.
Two people fell for the trap during the sting that law enforcement calls a “shoulder tap” operation.
The penalty for furnishing alcohol to a minor is a minimum $1,000 fine and 24 hours of community service, according to Banning police.
“We conduct these operations to keep alcohol out of the hands of our youth,” said ABC
Director Joseph McCullough. “By preventing underage drinking we can increase the
quality of life in our communities and reduce DUIs.”
This operation was funded by ABC’s Alcohol Policing Partnership program and the California
Office of Traffic Safety through NHTSA.
