By Cecily Barnes
In the past year, only one business in Saratoga has been cited for illegally selling alcohol to a minor: Kelly Liquors on Cox Avenue, with a citation that was given last June.
"We have since gone back there on a separate sting and they certainly don't sell to minors anymore," said Sgt. Jeff Miles.
Along with the rest of the county, Saratoga has been swept by the Sheriff's Department's "Alcohol Decoy" sting operation. The operation sweeps the county's liquor stores, gas stations and grocery marts, sending in minors to purchase alcohol. The minors are usually from the youth cadet program, or are sons and daughters of officers.
"You're supposed to dress in usual clothes," explained 17-year-old decoy Kristi Slusher, daughter of an officer. "You get some kind of liquor, and if they ask you for ID, you have to show it."
Deception is not involved in the decoy operations.
"If [the decoys] are asked their age or asked for identification, they are to produce it," said Sgt. Miles. "If they are verbally asked their age, they are to verbally give their correct age."
In addition, all of the audited establishments are sent a letter informing them they will be visited during an undercover sting operation."In accordance with Alcohol Beverage Control, we sent out letters to all the establishments in advance, indicating that we will be conducting sting operations in the next year," said Sgt. Miles. "We actually give them advance warning that we're coming."
But when the minors walk in, there's no evidence that they're with the sheriff's department.
"We went in and I would buy alcohol and bring it to the register and see if they would card me," said 18-year-old Adam Schuster, a friend of an officer's daughter. "They sold it to me four times out of ten. Three of the times they didn't [ask for ID] and one place looked at my ID and still sold it to me."
Besides assisting the law, minors involved in decoy operations learn valuable lessons about underage drinking and smoking.
"I feel good about [being a decoy] because it [could save] kids from getting into drunk driving accidents, or drinking before they should," said 17-year-old Slusher.
Tobacco stings are done in conjunction with alcohol, but on a separate route.
"We haven't done the combined thing in Saratoga yet," said Miles, estimating that a combo sting will sweep Saratoga within the next year.
Selling tobacco or alcohol to minors violates the California Penal Code, and is a misdemeanor. Cited businesses are usually fined. When cited, businesses are also reviewed by the county District Attorney's Office and the state Alcohol Beverage Control Department.
This article appeared in the Saratoga News, January 8, 1997.
©1997 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.