Police zero in on underage drinking Laguna...

Police zero in on underage drinking

Laguna Beach police conducted two operations on Dec. 17 in an

effort to prevent underage drinking. Participating in the state-wide

“Shoulder Tap” program, police had 18-year-old “decoys” ask people to

buy them alcohol and then cited those who agreed to purchase alcohol

for the minors.

Christopher Wright, 35, of San Clemente, Carlos Rodriguez, 38, of

Laguna Beach, Brandon Schultz, 19, of Laguna Beach and April Solomon,

21, of Laguna Beach were all given misdemeanor citations for

providing alcohol to a minor, police said.

On the same night, police conducted an undercover alcohol-buying

operation, also with the help of 18-year-old decoys. Going into

various businesses in Laguna, the decoys, all with identification

indicating they were underage, tried to buy alcohol, police said.

“We don’t trick them,” said Laguna Beach Police Sgt. Darin Lenyi.

“We don’t give them a false ID or anything like that,” Lenyi said.

If alcohol was sold to the minor, police gave the person who sold

the alcohol a citation and the business’ alcohol and beverage license

is subject to review, police said.

Hope Bartlett, 37, of Dana Point, an employee at Wild Oats, and

Jung Shin, 47, of Irvine, an employee at a 7-11, were each cited for

selling alcohol to a minor, police said.