3 arrested in SLO police operations investigating sale of alcohol to minors
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- SLO police and state agents arrested 3 people in underage alcohol sting operations.
- Officers used minor decoys and shoulder taps across 52 locations over 3 weeks.
- Grant-funded operations aim to curb illegal sales and reduce underage alcohol access.
For three weeks in a row, the San Luis Obispo Police Department and state agents conducted minor decoy and shoulder tap operations to catch illegal alcohol sales.
These operations resulted in three arrests, the department announced Monday.
A minor decoy operation is when police direct a minor under the age of 21 to enter a grocery, liquor or convenience store and attempt to purchase alcohol. If asked by the store attendant, the minor is instructed by law enforcement to say their true age and present their actual identification.
In a shoulder tap operation, a minor under police supervision approaches adults outside of the store and asks them to purchase alcohol for them.
The Police Department, assisted by agents from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, carried out these operations at more than 50 locations in San Luis Obispo on three consecutive Thursdays, May 22, May 29 and June 5, police said in a news release.
On May 22, police ran minor decoy operations at 30 store locations around San Luis Obispo, the release said. One store clerk was arrested at Vons at 3900 Broad St.
The following week on May 29, one person was arrested during a shoulder tap operation for purchasing alcohol for a minor, according to the release. Police did not say where the person was arrested.
Most recently on Thursday, 22 minor decoy operations resulted in the arrest of one store clerk at SLO Ranch Market at 851 Froom Ranch Way.
“Minor decoy and shoulder tap operations are proven to be an effective tool in promoting responsible practices in the sales of alcoholic beverages by licensees, reducing substance abuse and enhancing community welfare by limiting underage access to alcohol,” the release said.
The program was funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety and administered through the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, according to the release.
This story was originally published June 9, 2025 at 3:51 PM.
