On October 15, 2025, the Santa Clara Police Department and the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) cited a retail clerk in Santa Clara, California, for selling alcohol to minors. The citation was part of a Minor Decoy operation. In this operation, underage individuals, supervised by law enforcement, attempted to buy alcohol from eight local retailers.
Clerks who sell alcohol to minors may receive a minimum fine of $250 and must complete 24 to 32 hours of community service for a first offense. The ABC may also impose administrative penalties on the business, such as fines, suspension, or revocation of the store’s alcohol license.
Santa Clara Police Chief Cory Morgan said these operations aim to reduce underage drinking and improve public safety. ABC Director Paul Tupy stated that checking identification is important to prevent alcohol sales to people under 21…