CONTACT: Sgt. Joe Hurni, Downtown Sergeant
DATE OF INCIDENT: Monday, January 12, 2026
TYPE OF INCIDENT: ABC Grant Operation
PLACE OF OCCURRENCE: City of San Luis Obispo
On Monday, January 12, 2026, San Luis Obispo Police Officers along with agents of the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) conducted a Shoulder Tap and Minor Decoy operation.
The Shoulder Tap operation focuses on adults who purchase alcohol for persons under the age of 21. A minor under the direct supervision of law enforcement stands outside of a liquor or convenience store and asks customers to buy them alcohol. The minor also indicates they are underage and cannot purchase the alcohol.
If an adult agrees to purchase alcohol for the underage person, they can be arrested and cited for furnishing alcohol to a minor. The penalty for furnishing alcohol to a minor is a minimum $1,000 fine and 24 hours of community service.
We are proud to report after contacting approximately 25 individuals at four different locations in the city, there were zero violations, with no adults purchasing alcohol for the minors.
The Minor Decoy operation utilizes a minor, under the direct supervision of officers and agents, attempting to purchase alcohol from liquor and other retail stores in San Luis Obispo.
Clerks who sell alcohol to a minor face a minimum fine of $250, and 24 to 32 hours of community service for a first violation. In addition, ABC may take administrative action against the alcoholic beverage license of the business where alcohol was sold to a minor. That may include a fine, suspension, or the permanent revocation of the license.
During these operations, the minor decoy is truthful about their age when asked, and provides their actual state issued identification card to clerks upon request. Of the nineteen locations visited, one location, Laguna Shell at 11590 Los Osos Valley Rd, sold alcohol to the minor decoy, despite viewing their identification card stating they were 18 years old. This clerk, Elizabeth Ann Clanin of San Luis Obispo, was cited and released on a misdemeanor charge of furnishing alcohol to a minor, Business and Professions Code 25658(a).
“ABC conducts these operations to keep alcohol out of the hands of our youth,” said ABC Acting Director Frank Robles. “We can increase the quality of life in our communities and reduce DUIs by preventing underage drinking.”
