Santa Monica Police Department Conducts Minor Decoy Operation
July 2, 2025 9:39 AM
Santa Monica, CA – On June 20, 2025, detectives from the Santa Monica Police Department conducted a Minor Decoy Operation at 11 retail establishments licensed to sell alcohol within the City of Santa Monica.
During the operation, a minor under the direct supervision of SMPD detectives attempted to purchase alcohol. All 11 businesses complied with the law and refused to sell alcohol to the underage decoy.
Retail clerks who sell alcohol to minors face a minimum $250 fine and/or 24 to 32 hours of community service for a first offense. In addition, ABC may take administrative action against the business’s alcohol license, which can include fines, suspension, or even permanent revocation of the license.
Minor Decoy Operations are part of a statewide effort conducted in partnership with the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC). Statistics have shown that young people under the age of 21 have a higher rate of drunken driving fatalities than the general adult population.
“Minor Decoy operations hold accountable those who sell alcohol to minors,” said ABC Director Joseph McCullough. “Keeping alcohol away from youth is a priority.”
Minor Decoy operations have been used by local law enforcement since the 1980s. At that time, violation rates were as high as 40 to 50 percent. In communities where operations are conducted regularly, the rate has dropped to 10 percent or lower. In 1994, the California Supreme Court unanimously upheld the legality of using underage decoys as a valid law enforcement tool.
Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
ABC encourages licensees to take advantage of its free Licensee Education on Alcohol and Drugs (LEAD) training. Licensees and their employees can now take the training online and may also attend in-person sessions at classroom locations.
To learn more about ABC’s enforcement
and prevention programs, visit:
Enforcement
Programs and Prevention Programs
The Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control is part of the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency.
Media Contact
Lewis Gilmour
Lieutenant
Lewis.Gilmour@santamonica.gov