Long Beach police say investigators cited six adults who agreed to buy alcohol for minors during a monthslong sting operation.
Under the supervision of Long Beach police officers and agents from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, underage decoys would approach adults outside convenience or liquor stores and ask them to buy alcohol.
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Police said they ran the sting at various locations in Long Beach on three different dates:
Oct. 14, 2023:
- 300 block of Redondo Avenue
- 2800 block of Anaheim Street
March 9, 2024:
- 5400 block of Long Beach Boulevard
- 3700 block of Orange Avenue
- 3300 block of Atlantic Avenue
- 4100 block of Norse Way
- 6000 block of Long Beach Boulevard
- 4000 block of Long Beach Boulevard
- 4500 block of Orange Avenue
May 17, 2024:
- 4900 block of Long Beach Boulevard
- 6100 block of Orange Avenue
- 4200 block of Long Beach Boulevard
During this type of sting, which police call a “shoulder tap” operation, the decoy informs the adult they’re underage and asks for help buying booze, according to the LBPD.
Adults caught agreeing to buy alcohol for minors can be arrested or cited, police said. The minimum penalty they face is a $1,000 fine and 24 hours of community service.
“It’s important to uphold our community’s values by taking enforcement or education action against those who contribute to the delinquency or our minors,” LBPD Commander Michael Richens said in a statement.