Three cited in underage alcohol sting in South Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Three local employees were cited by a recent decoy operation to catch people selling alcohol to minors.

On September 28, 2017, the South Lake Tahoe Police Department, through a grant form the California Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC), conducted the minor decoy operation where minors under their supervision attempted to purchase alcohol from 19 different establishments.

Officers cited three clerks, Yenifer Rodriguez Olivas, age 31, Nicholas Nance, age 35, and Peter Tyson, age 27 for selling alcohol to minors. The clerks were cited at Mi Pueblo Market, RiteAid, and Safeway. Those who sold to the minor face a minimum fine of $250, and/or 24 to 32 hours of community service for a first violation. In addition, ABC will take administrative action against the alcoholic beverage license of the business. That may include a fine, a suspension of the license, or the permanent revocation of the license.

The South Lake Tahoe Police Department has been awarded a $95,000 grant from the California Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) to battle alcohol-related crime. The grant is awarded to local law enforcement agencies in California through ABC’s Grant Assistance Program (GAP). The grants strengthen local law enforcement efforts by combining the efforts of local police officers and ABC agents. ABC agents have expertise in alcoholic beverage laws and can help communities reduce alcohol-related problems. The funds will be used to reduce the number of alcoholic beverage sales to minors, obviously intoxicated patrons, illegal solicitations of alcohol, and other criminal activities such as the sale and possession of illegal drugs.

The South Lake Tahoe Police Department conducts the compliance checks to reduce the availability of alcohol to minors. Statistics have shown that young people under the age of 21 have a higher rate of drunken driving fatalities than the general adult population. Minor Decoy operations have been conducted by local law enforcement throughout the state since the 1980’s. When the program first began, the violation rate of retail establishments selling to minors was as high as 40 to 50 percent. When conducted on a routine basis, the rate has dropped in some cities as low as 10 percent or even below. In 1994, the California Supreme Court ruled unanimously that use of underage decoys is a valid tool of law enforcement to ensure that licensees are complying with the law.

Training can help businesses better understand their responsibilities, and also provide them with the tools and knowledge they need to promote reasonable consumption and contribute to making communities safer. On October 24th, 2017 the South Lake Tahoe Police Department will be hosting a free training session for ABC licensed businesses and their employees. The training will be taught by an ABC agent working for ABC’s Licensee Education on Alcohol and Drugs (LEAD) program. The LEAD program educates businesses on laws involving the sale and service of alcoholic beverages. The curriculum is designed for licensees, managers, and employees. There is no separate management curriculum. Program length is approximately 3-1/2 hours. The LEAD program provides the licensee and applicant with practical information on serving alcoholic beverages safely, responsibly, and legally, and preventing illicit drug activity at the licensed establishment.

The LEAD training will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on October 24, 2017 in the City Council Chambers (1901 Airport Rd). ABC licensed businesses and their employees who are interested in attending the training program must register for the class on the ABC website (www.abc.ca.gov).