Police Cite Workers in Alcohol Sting

Employees at five businesses, including one in Manhattan Beach, received citations on Aug. 26 for selling alcohol to a minor during a joint police sting operation between the Manhattan Beach and El Segundo police departments.

In an effort to enforce drinking age minimums, police sent an underage decoy to 26 "on-sale businesses," or those that are authorized to sell alcohol for consumption on site, said Manhattan Beach Police Sgt. Chris Vargas.

"We try to keep businesses on their toes and educated," Vargas said. "The ultimate goal is that businesses are following rules set by the Department of Alcohol Beverage Control. We're trying to reduce the availability of alcohol to minors."

In each local sting operation, the underage decoy attempted to buy alcohol and, if successful, the employee who served the decoy received a citation, Vargas said.

In Manhattan Beach, an employee at El Torito was cited. In El Segundo, employees at Purple Orchid, Marmalade Café, Doubletree Hotel and The Office Downtown also received citations.

Citations range from a minimum $250 fee to a maximum of one year in jail, to be determined by a judge, Vargas said. A business' alcohol license could also be suspended or revoked, depending on its history of infractions.

Police conduct sting operations based on the number of complaints from parents of underage youth, Vargas said. Police target the subjects of those complaints and randomly select other businesses.

The last joint operation between the two police departments happened four months ago. Police sent a decoy to 17 off-sale businesses in the two cities. None received citations.

Manhattan Beach has 117 bars, restaurants and retail stores with alcohol licenses; El Segundo has 79.