On Saturday, March 10th, 2007 the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office, working with two minors, completed the third of at least ten Shoulder Tap Decoy Operations over the next many months.  The evening’s operation ended with no violations or arrests.

The Shoulder Tap Program targets individuals who furnish alcoholic beverages to underaged minors, who are cooperating with the sheriff’s office during the program.  The project is targeted to reduce underage drinking and the resultant DUI driving injuries and fatalities and reduce youth access to alcoholic beverages through enforcement intervention.

The Shoulder Tap Program is run similarly to the Minor Decoy Program, however, focuses on adults who knowingly purchase alcohol for people less than 21 years of age.  Under the program, a minor (or operator) under the direct supervision of a peace officer will stand outside a liquor or convenience store that sells alcoholic beverage and ask patrons to buy them alcohol.  The minor clearly indicates in some way that he or she is underage and cannot legally purchase the alcohol.  If the adult complies, investigators then arrest the adult violator for furnishing alcohol to the minor, which is a misdemeanor violation.

Last Saturday’s operation started at 3:00 p.m. and concluded at about 11:00 p.m.  During the operation, two minors were utilized at six businesses located throughout Mariposa County.  In all, fourteen adult appearing patrons were contacted.  None of the patrons agreed to purchase alcohol for the minors.

The Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office applied for and received a grant from the Federal Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency and Prevention and the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) for the amount of $10,242.00 to run ten Shoulder Tap Operations within a twenty-two month period.  The purpose of the operations is to raise public awareness that furnishing alcoholic beverages to individuals under twenty-one years old is a criminal offense and will be prosecuted.

The sheriff’s office asks the communities assistance in preventing underage drinking by not furnishing alcohol to minors and to report furnishing violations if you suspect them.