The San Diego County Sheriff‘s Department is partnering with the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) through a countywide grant to help prevent underage drinking and other crimes that may occur at ABC licensed establishments.

In July 2020, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department received an ABC grant of $100,000. The money is being spent in the communities patrolled by the Sheriff’s Department to reduce alcohol related crimes and educate ABC licensed businesses. The goal of the ABC Alcohol Policing Partnership Program is to collaborate with local law enforcement agencies to help make communities safer. The cooperative efforts of the Sheriff’s Department and ABC are aimed at building positive working relationships between all stakeholders and increasing the safety of San Diego County.

On June 5, 2021, deputies from the San Diego County Sheriff's Department and three minor decoys conducted both Minor Decoy and Shoulder Tap Operations at various locations in Rancho San Diego. The minor decoys tested retailers at five (5) locations, attempting to purchase alcoholic beverages inside their establishments. No locations sold alcohol to the minors.

The Shoulder Tap operation was conducted in front of four (4) local retail liquor stores where a teenager asked adults to purchase the teen alcohol. Eleven (11) adults total were contacted and none purchased alcohol for the minors.

ABC related operations such as Minor Decoy and Shoulder Tap help reduce alcohol abuse and youth access to alcohol. Operations like these will continue through June 2021.