The Sheriff’s Office has released the results of its Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) grant funded operations for the 2018-19 fiscal year.

Thanks to the funding, the Sheriff’s Office was able to provide enhanced enforcement and education to battle alcohol-related crimes in the Isla Vista and Goleta communities, including during the Halloween and Deltopia operations.

The goal is to reduce the number of alcoholic beverage sales to minors, illegal solicitations and possession of alcohol, as well as other criminal activities involving alcohol consumption and abuse.

The grant funding also is used to educate both on-sale and off-sale establishments about the importance of operating within the restrictions of their ABC licenses.

As part of the grant, nine Minor Decoy Operations were conducted. In those scenarios a decoy under the age of 21 attempted to buy alcohol from businesses that sell alcohol.

During the operations, 47 restaurant/bars were visited and 67 liquor/grocery store locations were contacted. Of those, 15 locations sold alcohol to the minor decoy. The employee who sold the alcohol was cited for the criminal violation and an administrative violation was forwarded to the Alcohol Beverage Control for license action.

The Sheriff’s Office also conducted 11 Shoulder Tap Operations throughout the year. In these scenarios, a minor decoy stands near a store and asks people to purchase alcohol for them because they are under age 21. During these operations, 479 people were contacted and of those 28 people were cited for furnishing alcohol to a minor.

The Sheriff’s Office appreciates its proactive partnership with ABC to address alcohol-related issues that continue to negatively impact the Isla Vista community and surrounding areas. The grant funding is important to increase protection for local youth by keeping alcohol away from minors and holding those who provide alcohol to minors accountable.

— Kelly Hoover for Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office.