Long Beach Police Cite Clerk for Selling Alcohol to Minor During Decoy Operation

LONG BEACH — The Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) cited a clerk at Party Time Liquor, located at 6031 Atlantic Avenue in North Long Beach, for selling alcohol to a minor during a compliance operation conducted on September 12, 2025.

The enforcement effort was part of a minor decoy operation in which underage individuals, under the direct supervision of police detectives, attempted to purchase alcohol from 19 licensed retail establishments across the city. Party Time Liquor was the only business that sold alcohol to the underage decoy.

According to state law, clerks who sell alcohol to minors face a minimum $250 fine and 24 to 32 hours of community service for a first-time violation. The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) may also take administrative action against the business, which could include a fine, suspension, or permanent revocation of its license.

“Businesses should always check IDs before selling alcohol,” said ABC Director Joseph McCullough. “Preventing access to people not old enough to legally purchase alcohol improves safety on our roadways and in our communities.”

Underage drinking remains a major public safety concern. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), drivers under 21 have a significantly higher risk of being involved in a crash, and about 25 percent of fatal crashes involve underage drinking.

Minor decoy operations have been used by law enforcement throughout California since the 1980s. Early in the program, violation rates were as high as 40 to 50 percent, but routine enforcement has helped reduce that figure to below 10 percent in many communities. In 1994, the California Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the use of minor decoys is a valid enforcement tool to ensure compliance with alcohol sales laws.

Funding for the operation was provided by a grant from ABC through its Alcohol Policing Partnership (APP) program.

LBPD said it will continue conducting compliance checks to ensure alcohol retailers in Long Beach are following the law and keeping the community safe.