The Oxnard Police Department and agents from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) cited four individuals during ABC’s statewide Shoulder Tap operation on March 11, 2023, in Oxnard, for furnishing alcoholic beverages to minors.
A Shoulder Tap operation focuses on adults who purchase alcohol for persons under the age of 21. A minor under the direct supervision of law enforcement stands outside of a liquor or convenience store and asks customers to buy them alcohol. The minor also indicates they are underage and cannot purchase the alcohol. If an adult agrees to purchase alcohol for the underage person, they can be arrested and cited for furnishing alcohol to a minor. The penalty for furnishing alcohol to a minor is a minimum $1,000 fine and 24 hours of community service.
This enforcement operation is designed to create awareness about the dangers of underage drinking throughout California and keep communities safe. Statistics have shown that young people under the age of 21 have a much higher risk of being involved in a crash than older drivers. About 25 percent of fatal crashes involve underage drinking according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
This operation was funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety through NHTSA.