Investigators of the California Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) have cited four stores for selling alcohol to minors. The actions were taken on February 27, 2010 during a minor decoy operation. During the operation, minors worked under the direct supervision of department investigators and attempted to purchase alcohol from 13 retail licensees in the city of Fillmore and unincorporated areas just outside the city.

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 licenses of the businesses that sold alcohol to minors. That may include a fine, a suspension of the license, or the permanent revocation of the license.

ABC is conducting the compliance checks state-wide 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.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

ABC is a department of the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency, which is under the direction of Secretary Dale E. Bonner, a member of the Governor's Cabinet.