The HSU University Police Department received a $20,150 grant from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control—a state agency that monitors liquor licenses and laws regarding alcohol—to conduct minor decoy and shoulder tap operations and other enforcement efforts.
"The result of the decoy operation was total success for the businesses. Ten businesses refused to sell alcohol to the minor decoys. This is exactly what we want to see happening when we conduct operations,” said HSU Police Sgt. Janelle Jackson. HSUPD assisted Fortuna in similar operations the following night.
According to Jackson:
• In the decoy operation, ten businesses refused to sell alcohol to the minor decoys.
• The shoulder-tap operation resulted in two misdemeanor citations for furnishing alcohol to minors.
• The party patrol operation resulted in six misdemeanor minor-in-possession citations.
Jackson said HSU conducted these operations because underage drinking is a serious issue. While this operation was being conducted, HSUPD officers working patrol handled two separate medical aid calls for intoxicated underage students. Both calls resulted in the students being transported to Mad River Hospital for alcohol poisoning. HSUPD handles all types of alcohol related calls on a regular basis, from alcohol poisoning and public intoxication, to various types of assaults.
In the decoy operation, Jackson said a minor was sent to a business to purchase alcohol from a clerk. If a decoy is successful, an officer contacts and cites the clerk, who is responsible for properly checking IDs.
In the shoulder tap operation, the minor stood outside of a business asking people to purchase alcohol for them, after telling them they were under 21. People who decided to buy the minor alcohol were cited. In the party patrol operation, plain-clothes officers were patrolling an area in an unmarked vehicle. They observed minors who were in possession of alcoholic beverages. This operation resulted in six citations.
"It is a great success when 10 out of 10 businesses refuse to sell alcohol to minors. Hopefully the people who purchased alcohol for a minor will learn a valuable lesson from the experience.
As many as 20 people were asked to purchase alcohol—all but two declined. As for the six minors cited for being in possession of alcohol, a lot of time was spent trying to educate them on the varying levels of consequences for their choices." Jackson said.
“We will continue to work with ABC to help educate and continue to bring awareness of the serious and sometimes fatal consequences of underage drinking, and to help prevent sales of alcohol and furnishing alcohol to minors,” Jackson said.