In a continuing effort to protect youth and promote public safety, the Redlands Police Department, in partnership with agents from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC), cited three clerks last month for selling alcohol to minors. These citations followed a Minor Decoy operation on January 22, during which minors under the direct supervision of law enforcement attempted to purchase alcohol from nine retail licensees in Redlands.
During a previous operation on October 12, 2025, officers and ABC agents visited 11 retail licensees, resulting in one clerk being cited.
Clerks who sell to minors face serious consequences. For a first violation, penalties include a minimum fine of $250, and 24 to 32 hours of community service. In addition, ABC may take administrative action against the business’s alcohol license, which could include a fine, suspension, or permanent revocation.
“Conducting these operations allow us to help reduce underage drinking and increase public safety,” said Redlands Police Chief Rachel Tolber.
“Licensees should always check identification before selling alcohol. Our roadways and communities see improved safety when we prevent access to people not old enough to legally purchase alcohol,” said ABC Director Paul Tupy.
Minor Decoy operations have been conducted by law enforcement throughout California, since the 1980s. When first implemented, the violation rate of retail establishments selling to minors was as high as 40 to 50 percent. With routine enforcement, the rate has dropped below 10 percent in some cities. The California Supreme Court unanimously ruled in 1994 that the use of minor decoys is a valid legal tool to ensure licensees comply with the law.
Funding for the Redlands operations comes from a $42,648 grant awarded through ABC’s Alcohol Policing Partnership (APP) program, which the Redlands City Council accepted on September 16, 2025. Chief Tolber emphasized, “This is important to Redlands in order to increase protection for youth and to address crime at problem locations.”
The grant is one of nearly 50 awarded statewide to local law enforcement agencies. These grants strengthen enforcement, by combining the expertise of ABC agents with local police efforts to reduce alcohol-related harm in the community.
“Our Alcohol Policing Partnership program can improve the quality of life in neighborhoods. The communities where the grant program’s resources have been invested have seen a real difference,” said Director Tupy.
Created in 1995, the APP program is designed to keep alcohol away from minors, prevent service to obviously intoxicated patrons, and combat other criminal activities such as illegal drug sales and possession.
Statistics show that people under 21 are at a significantly higher risk of being involved in a crash, with about 25 percent of fatal crashes involving underage drinking, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Through these operations, Redlands Police and ABC continue to protect youth, improve public safety, and create safer neighborhoods by ensuring that local businesses comply with alcohol laws.
###
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.