APTOS—Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s deputies issued misdemeanor citations at five mid-county businesses after employees allegedly sold alcohol or tobacco to minor decoys, Sheriff’s Lt. Greg Lansdowne said.
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office Alcohol and Tobacco Compliance Unit conducted the Nov. 7 decoy operation at 13 restaurants and businesses in Live Oak, Aptos and Soquel.
The goal of the operation was to limit minors’ access to alcoholic beverages and tobacco products, Lansdowne said.
The minor decoys are under 21 years of age and are under the direct supervision of deputies during the operation.
The decoy attempted to purchase alcohol or tobacco products from the following locations but was refused:
• El Jardin Live Oak – alcohol
• Mediterranean Aptos – alcohol
• Burger Aptos – alcohol
• Safeway Store Aptos – alcohol
• Vino Cruz Soquel – alcohol
• Rite-Aid Aptos – alcohol
• Quik Stop Soquel – alcohol and tobacco
• Aptos Village Liquors Aptos – alcohol and tobacco
The following businesses sold alcohol or tobacco to the minor decoy:
• Manuel’s Aptos – alcohol
• Marianne’s Aptos – alcohol
• Seacliff Plaza Aptos – alcohol
• Safeway Gas Aptos – tobacco
• Aptos St. BBQ Aptos – alcohol
The store clerks from Manuel’s, Marianne’s, Seacliff Plaza and the Aptos Street BBQ restaurant were each issued a citation and a court date for furnishing alcohol to a minor. The store delivery clerk from the Safeway Gas was issued a citation for furnishing tobacco to a minor. All were given court dates for the misdemeanor charges.
