The Placer County Sheriff's Office has announced that it will use a $40,000 grant from the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to fight underage drinking and alcohol sales to minors.
The problem was apparent during a recent Sheriff's Office decoy operation in the Lake Tahoe area, where 40 percent of the businesses visited sold alcohol to the decoys, according to a Sheriff's Office news release.
The grant will assist in promoting awareness and providing training in alcohol-related crimes and their effect on schools, parents and students countywide. Anyone who sells or furnishes alcohol to a minor faces a fine of $250 and up to 24 hours of community service. If a business sells alcohol to a minor, the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control can take administrative action on the business' alcoholic beverage license, impose a fine, or both.
During the recent decoy operation, underage decoys were sent into 15 businesses to see whether they would be sold alcohol. As a result, citations for selling alcohol to a minor were issued to employees at Tahoe City Shell, Tahoe City Chevron, and Lake View Wine and Spirits in Tahoe City; Lanza's Restaurant in Tahoe Vista; and Sandy's Pub and The Slot Club in Squaw Valley.
Sheriff's officials said more such enforcement projects are planned.
The Sheriff's Office will offer Licensee Education on Alcohol and Drugs, or LEAD, classes throughout the year for retail licensees, their employees and applicants. The classes are a free, voluntary prevention and education program. Anyone interested in participating in the classes can call (530) 308-1552, or email lbettenc@placer.ca.gov.
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