alcohol

The Long Beach Police Department was awarded a $100,000 grant from the California Department of Alcohol Beverage Control to fight alcohol-related crime, the LBPD announced Monday.

The money will be used to combat alcohol sales to minors or obviously intoxicated patrons, illegal solicitations of alcohol and other criminal activities, including the sale and possession of drugs, the LBPD said in a statement.

“This grant will allow us to continue the decrease of alcohol consumption and abuse by minors and target problem locations that have contributed to an increase in crime,” Long Beach Police Chief Robert Luna said.

The grant is one of 49 awarded to law enforcement agencies across the state through ABC’s Alcohol Policing Partnership Program.

The program is designed to put bad operators out of business, keep alcohol away from minors and bring penalties such as fines, suspensions or revocations against businesses that violate the law, the LBPD said in a statement.

Since 1995, the grant program has distributed over $20 million to local agencies.

“The program improves the quality of life in neighborhoods,” said ABC Director Jacob Appelsmith. “We’ve seen a real difference in the communities where the grant program resources have been invested.”

Anyone who wants to file a complaint about alcohol-related crime in Long Beach can contact the LBPD’s vice detail at 562-570-7219.