Monterey County, CA – The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, along with agents of the California
Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) have cited 4 clerks for selling alcohol to
minors between April 3, 2026 and April 4, 2026. The actions were the result of a Minor Decoy operation in
which minors under the direct supervision of department agents, attempted to purchase alcohol from
14 retail licensees in Monterey County. Attempts to purchase alcohol at convenience/liquor stores
were met with negative results. All 4 subjects cited were at Restaurant/Bar locations in the City of
Salinas and Carmel Valley.
Cited were 54-year-old Carlos Zarazua, 52-year-old Diego Gonzalez-Reyes, 33-year-old Juanita Galvez and 22-year-old Cassandra Rios.
Clerks who sold to a minor face a minimum fine of $250, and 24 to 32 hours of community service for a
first violation. In addition, ABC may take administrative action against the alcoholic beverage license
of the business where alcohol was sold to a minor. That may include a fine, suspension, or the
permanent revocation of the license.
Monterey County Sheriff Tina Nieto stated, “This past weekend there were two alcohol-related fatal
crashes that involved adult drivers, one taking the life of a 16-year-old young man. This underscores
that impaired driving is a lifelong responsibility. Education and awareness must reach every level of
our community. That means holding businesses and individuals accountable for the unlawful sale of
alcohol to minors. By starting these conversations early and reinforcing them over time, we can help
prevent the tragedies we have recently experienced.”
“Licensees should always check identification before selling alcohol,” said ABC Director Paul Tupy.
“Our roadways and communities see improved safety when we prevent access to people not old
enough to legally purchase alcohol.”
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).
Minor Decoy operations have been conducted by local law enforcement throughout the state since
the 1980s. When the program first began, the violation rate of retail establishments selling to minors
was as high as 40 to 50 percent. When conducted on a routine basis, the rate has dropped to below
10 percent in some cities. In 1994, the California Supreme Court ruled unanimously that use of minor
decoys is a valid legal tool of law enforcement to make sure that licensees are complying with the
law.
Funding for this program was provided by a grant from ABC through the department’s Alcohol Policing
Partnership (APP) program.
About the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control
The mission of the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control is to provide the highest level of service and public safety to
the people of the State through licensing, education, and enforcement.
Comments
Post a Comment