State agents crackdown on underage drinking at Mid-State Fair
Total of 72 citations were issued at and around the fairgrounds for various violations
– Agents from the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) conducted enforcement operations during the California Mid-State Fair, which took place from July 17 to July 28 in Paso Robles. The primary focus of the agents was to prevent youth access to alcohol at the event.
Agents worked multiple days at the fairgrounds and carried out a minor decoy operation in the city of Paso Robles. A total of 72 citations were issued at and around the fairgrounds for various violations, including minor in possession of alcohol, minor in possession of false identification, furnishing and selling alcohol to a minor, minor consuming alcohol in an ABC-licensed location, driving with an open container of alcohol, and passenger in possession of an open container of alcohol.
As part of the minor decoy operation, five individuals were cited for selling alcoholic beverages to a minor. In this operation, minors under the direct supervision of agents attempted to purchase alcohol from retail licensees in Paso Robles.
Those who sold alcohol to a minor face a minimum fine of $250 and/or 24 to 32 hours of community service for a first violation. Additionally, ABC will take administrative action against the alcoholic beverage licenses of the locations where alcohol was sold to a minor. This action may include a fine, a suspension of the liquor license, or the permanent revocation of the license.
ABC conducts minor decoy operations statewide to reduce the availability of alcohol to minors. These operations have been conducted by local law enforcement throughout California since the 1980s.
Funding for the minor decoy program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency.
