NEWPORT BEACH : Underage Drinking Crackdown to Begin

Police Department employees will soon be out in force buying alcohol at liquor stores, convenience markets and restaurants as part of the city’s annual summer effort to crack down on underage drinking.

Under the so-called “Decoy” program, the department’s younger-looking officers and employees will purchase alcohol at area establishments to see if workers are checking the identification of youthful customers.

“We hope that just by virtue of the reminder that we’re out there, (the shop operators) will tighten up on what are probably already pretty good procedures,” said Sgt. Andy Gonis, a police spokesman.

Gonis said the department would not detail when the operation will begin or whether any particular areas will be targeted. He would only say that the Decoy operation will begin “shortly” and cover businesses “citywide.”

Workers who sell alcohol to the youthful-appearing Police Department employees will be held personally liable for the offense and may be issued a citation. Citations are typically issued for failing to ask for proper identification and selling alcohol to minors, which are misdemeanors and punishable by a fine or jail time, Gonis said.

The police will then report the offense to the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Department, which issues licenses to sell alcohol, and that business’s license could be jeopardized, Gonis said. He said it was up to the state agency to take further action.

Though the department did not have statistics, Gonis said that each summer there are numerous alcohol-related arrests in Newport Beach, many involving underage drinkers.

Those arrests are primarily made for public drunkenness and drunk driving, but there are also a number of arrests that involve violent crimes, such as assault and battery, that occur while people are intoxicated, he said.