Several servers in Camarillo are facing legal trouble after they were caught selling alcohol to a minor during a surprise police sting. On December 8 agents from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control teamed up with the Camarillo Police Department to run a minor decoy operation. The goal was simple. They wanted to see which local businesses would actually follow the law and check for ID before handing over a drink.
🛑 How the Sting Worked
The police used a minor decoy who was under the age of 21 to test the local establishments. This young person worked under the direct supervision of law enforcement and walked into several businesses. The decoy would sit down at the bar and try to order an alcoholic drink.
The rules for the decoy were very strict. They were not allowed to lie about their age if the server asked. This was a direct test of whether the employees were doing their jobs and verifying who they were serving. Unfortunately for some businesses the results were not great.
💸 Applebee’s and Take Five Get Cited
During the operation the servers at Applebee’s and Take Five Cocktails failed the test. They provided alcohol to the minor decoy without properly checking their age. Because of this mistake the employees were cited and released for violating the state law that forbids furnishing alcohol to a minor.
This is a serious matter for the businesses involved. Not only do the individual servers face fines and community service but the businesses themselves can face administrative action from the state. This could lead to heavy fines or even the suspension of their liquor licenses if they keep breaking the rules.
🆔 The Drama at Cronies
The sting got even more complicated when the team visited Cronies. While they were there they discovered that an adult patron who was under 21 was drinking alcohol provided by an adult friend. The server at Cronies also joined in the mess by giving alcohol to the underage patron without asking for an ID from either person.
When the police dug deeper they found out that the underage woman was actually carrying a fake driver’s license. This led to a pile of citations. The underage woman was cited for possessing alcohol and having a fake ID. Her friend and the server were both cited for furnishing the alcohol to a minor.
🛡️ Why These Operations Matter
Police departments run these stings because underage drinking is a major factor in fatal car crashes. Statistics show that about 25 percent of fatal wrecks involve drivers who are under the legal drinking age.
Alan Barcelona is the president of the California Statewide Law Enforcement Association and he says it is a simple act to ask for an ID. He hopes that servers take the time to do this every single time to protect the public. The ABC and local police say they will continue these operations to keep the community safe and make sure businesses are held accountable for who they serve.