By Tiana Goegebuer
Corona – The City of Corona is making use of the state funding it receives from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, as well as other sources, in order to conduct Decoy Shoulder Tap Operations locally. “Shoulder Tap” is the term used by law enforcement to describe a situation in which a minor waits by a store that sells alcohol and asks a passing adult to do them a “favor”. The favor usually involves the adult purchasing a six-pack of beer, a bottle of wine (or something even stronger), who is then paid by the waiting minor.
Last month on a Saturday evening, teens were placed at eight locations in Corona for the operation. The Decoy Shoulder Tap Operation was carried out much like that of a scripted play on the part of law enforcement. The location choices are influenced by previous customer complaints or infractions involving alcohol. A minor – who is either a local teen or police cadet – stands by the front door of the store and waits for a customer to walk by. The teen’s job is to make it clear to the customer that he or she is underage but would like to purchase some alcohol from them. If the customer takes the minor’s money and buys the liquor, an undercover officer is waiting to issue a citation.
Of the 56 customers contacted by the minors, four adults agreed to purchase the alcohol. The minimum penalty for each of the cited adults is a $1,000 fine, 24 hours of community service work, and an appearance in court to answer for the charges.
