Police cited seven people in Manhattan Beach, two in Hermosa Beach and four in El Segundo for buying alcohol for a minor, while conducting a shoulder tap sting on Jan. 27.
A decoy minor, supervised by police officers, stood outside different stores, asking adults to buy alcohol for him or her. The decoy told the adults their real age. Just more than 230 adults were asked to purchase alcohol in the three cities.
The program is used to detect and deter alcohol sales to minors through education and enforcement, police said.
Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach and El Segundo police departments received a $50,000 grant that extends to June 30, 2012, to reduce alcohol-related crimes throughout the cities. This includes providing training to personnel in stores or restaurants licensed to sell alcohol, training patrol officers, and conducting inspections and sting operations to find out whether licensed establishments are following state laws and local operating permits.
