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Things To Know: 7 in San Mateo Caught Selling Liquor to Minors

Community: Community Information - SMPD Cites 7 San Mateo Stores for Alcohol Sales to Minors in Decoy

Hi Robert Riechel,

MEDIA RELEASE / COMMUNITY ALERT
CITY of SAN MATEO POLICE DEPARTMENT
200 Franklin Parkway, San Mateo, CA 94403
www.cityofsanmateo.org

On Monday afternoon, August 19th, San Mateo Police Department’s Crime Reduction Unit (CRU) engaged in an area-wide alcohol sales compliance check operation in partnership with the Pacifica and South San Francisco Police Departments, in coordination with the CA Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC). These ongoing compliance operations evaluate the practices of alcohol licensees (bars and merchants) to ensure they are in compliance, and educate the licensees on the proper procedures and of the potential consequences of violation.

The team used volunteer decoys to evaluate 18 licensee locations City-wide, focusing on shoulder-tap and on-sale alcohol purchases. . The target of the operation was underage alcohol sales, a violation of 25658(a) B&P. Statistically, young people under the age of 21 have a higher rate of drunk driving fatalities than the general adult population. Licensees in violation are subject to criminal charges and/or administrative action against their license by ABC. Seven of the above listed liquor sales stores in San Mateo were found to be in violation. As part of this partnership, SMPD’s CRU also assisted in 6 compliance checks in South San Francisco, finding one violation.

7 locations were cited for sales of alcoholic beverages to minors:

La Morenita Market (1519 S. Claremont St)
San Mateo Liquor (254a S. B. Street)
2nd Avenue Market (503 2nd Avenue)
Everybody's Market (916 E. 4th Avenue) * 2nd violation within a year *
Key Market (500 S. Norfolk Street)
Padda's Market (3a N. Kingston Street)
Hillsdale Market (212 E. Hillsdale Blvd)

Locations in violation are subject to a $750-$3000 fine or 15-day suspension of license for a first offense by ABC, and other penalties for criminal violations. A second violation within three years may subject licensees to fines of $2500-$20,000 or a 25-day suspension of license by ABC. (Info Provided by ABC)

SMPD’s CRU will be working with ABC in the future to continue such compliance checks. The focus on the continued enforcement is to reduce the percentage of offending stores within San Mateo. SMPD will be coordinating with ABC, the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office, and the San Mateo City Attorney’s Office to hold these businesses accountable.

San Mateo Police Department also partners locally with community and youth leaders in the North Central AOD Coalition (AOD – Alcohol and Other Drugs), facilitated by our partners at the Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center (PCRC). The AOD Partnership is dedicated to preventing drug and alcohol abuse by empowering residents, youth and local businesses to reduce access, sales and advertising of alcohol and drug products to minors.

For more resources from ABC, click here: http://www.abc.ca.gov/programs/programs_PE.html

For more about PCRC and its services, click here: http://www.pcrcweb.org/

Follow us on Twitter! www.twitter.com/sanmateopd

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