SAN MARCOS — Deputies from the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office, alongside agents from Alcoholic Beverage Control and a minor decoy, conducted sting operations at various locations in San Marcos, authorities said.
On Thursday, the shoulder tap operation was conducted in front of two local retail liquor stores where a minor, under the direct supervision of a peace officer, asked adults to buy them alcohol. The minor indicated in some way that they were underage and could not buy the alcohol, according to the agency.
During the operation, the minor decoy visited retailers at five locations trying to purchase alcoholic beverages under the direct supervision of peace officers. One location sold alcohol to the minor decoy.
Twelve adults were contacted, and one adult purchased alcohol for the minor. The penalty for furnishing alcohol to a minor is a minimum $1,000 fine and 24 hours of community service. ABC conducts these compliance checks statewide to reduce the availability of alcohol to minors, the sheriff’s office stated.
Statistics have shown that young people under the age of 21 have a higher rate of drunken driving fatalities than the general adult population.
SDSO partners with ABC through the Alcohol Policing Partnership grant to help prevent underage drinking and other crimes that may occur at ABC-licensed establishments.
In July 2026, SDSO received a $100,000 APP grant. The funds are being used in the communities patrolled by the sheriff’s office to reduce alcohol-related crimes and aid ABC-licensed businesses. The Sheriff’s Office says the APP program aims to collaborate with local law enforcement to help keep communities safe.
Anyone with information on licensed liquor establishments providing alcohol to minors can remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477 or the sheriff’s office nonemergency line at 858-868-3200
