NEWS RELEASE
DATE: May 30, 2025
SUBJECT: California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control
“Shoulder Tap” Operation
LOCATION: Oxnard, California
CONTACT: Corporal Steven Ramirez II, F.A.C.T. Compliance Officer
(805) 385-7600 | [email protected]
Oxnard Police Department and ABC conduct Underage Drinking Enforcement Operation
On May 30, 2025, officers from the Oxnard Police Department and agents from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) conducted a joint effort “Shoulder Tap” operation in the City of Oxnard related to the furnishing of alcoholic beverages to minors. This enforcement operation is designed to create awareness about the dangers of underage drinking throughout California and keep communities safe. During the operation, several locations were visited and eleven adults were contacted. One of the adults purchased alcohol for the minor decoy and was arrested for a misdemeanor offense.
“Shoulder Tap” operations focus on adults who purchase alcohol for minors under the age of 21. A minor, under the direct supervision of law enforcement, stands outside of a liquor or convenience store and asks customers to buy them alcohol. The minor also indicates they are underage and cannot purchase the alcohol themselves. If an adult agrees to purchase alcohol for the underage person, they can be arrested for furnishing alcohol to a minor. The penalty for furnishing alcohol to a minor is a minimum $3,000 fine and 24 hours of community service.
Statistics have shown that young people under the age of 21 have a much higher risk of being involved in a crash than older drivers. About 25 percent of fatal crashes involve underage drinking according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This operation was funded by ABC’s Alcohol Policing Partnership Program.