By Lookout Staff

March 19, 2025 -- Santa Monica police on Saturday cited five adults who purchased alcoholic beverages for minors during a sting operation, SMPD officials said Wednesday.

The Department was one of 62 law enforcement agencies across California that took part in the "Shoulder Tap" operation that resulted in 167 citations issued.

The penalty for furnishing alcohol to a minor under 21 years of age includes a minimum $1,000 fine and 24 hours of community service, according to police.

"These operations are conducted to prevent underage drinking and keep alcohol out of the hands of youth," according to officials with the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

"By reducing underage drinking, we can improve the quality of life in our communities and reduce the occurrence of DUIs."

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), approximately 25 percent of fatal crashes involve underage drinking.

During a Shoulder Tap operation, "the minor decoy stands outside of a liquor or convenience store and asks customers to buy them alcohol," SMPD officials said.

"The minor also informs the individuals that they are underage and cannot purchase the alcohol themselves." If an adult agrees, they can be arrested and cited for furnishing alcohol to a minor.

To prepare for the operation, "officers collect and review complaints and information provided" by numerous sources, according to the Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) website.

Officers then review the data and evidence to help plan the program and choose a minor decoy "comfortable making a face-to-face identification of the suspect after the violation" and who is willing to testify in court, the website said.

Saturday's Shoulder Tap operation comes after two adults were cited in a similar sting on February 7.

The operations are part of ABC's Minor Decoy/Shoulder Tap Grant Project funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.