Restaurants cited for selling to minor

Three restaurants and a bar in Costa Mesa were cited last week for serving alcohol to a person younger than 21, police said Tuesday.

As part of a state Alcohol Beverage Control grant, Costa Mesa police during the next seven months will be doing various checks on alcohol establishments for signage or cleanliness violations, and conducting undercover stings to see if they sell to minors.

The enforcement is meant to reduce alcohol sales to minors, obviously intoxicated patrons, or minors getting adults to buy them liquor and beer, among other reasons.

By the end of the grant’s term next fall, police will have checked all 363 alcohol businesses in Costa Mesa.

— Joseph Serna