Liquor Clerks In Petaluma Keep Selling To Minors: Police

PETALUMA - In the third compliance check carried out in the area within the past several weeks, the overwhelming majority of Petaluma liquor clerks again sold alcohol to a minor on Saturday night, according to police.

Petaluma police say "educational minor alcohol decoy compliance checks" were conducted at eleven on-sale alcohol establishments in Petaluma on Saturday, June 25th between 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

According to police, eight out of the eleven establishments visited sold alcohol to the 18-year-old decoy.

Ten out of eleven clerks did ask the decoy for proof of age identification, but only three clerks refused the sale of alcohol after carefully examining the ID and realizing the card did not belong to the minor, according to police.

The remaining employees who sold to the decoy glanced briefly at the ID.

In two previous compliance checks, on June 17, six of six Petaluma clerks sold liquor illegally to an 18-year-old girl.

"We are disappointed to report that all six establishments sold alcohol to the minor decoy," Petaluma police said in a statement at the time.

And just five days earlier, clerks working at 13 of 14 Sebastopol liquor stores sold alcohol to an 18-year-old boy during a decoy sting operation.

Petaluma police say while it is illegal to sell alcohol to a minor, no arrests were made in the most recent sting operation last Saturday.

They say the purpose of the compliance checks is to educate employees on best practices in the sale of alcohol.

According to police, the Petaluma Alcohol Related Nuisance Ordinance (ARNO) mandates that all employees who sell or serve alcohol in Petaluma participate in Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) training every three years.

Police say RBS training provides "information on state and local alcohol laws, liability for the employee and the business, skills training in how to identify a false ID, how to prevent alcohol sales to minors, refusing the sale of alcohol, what to do in the event of intoxication, and more. Participants come with a wide range of experience in the business of alcohol sales and service and have an opportunity to learn from one another."

Police are encouraged that the three clerks who did not sell alcohol have participated in RBS training.

The Sonoma County Department of Health Services provides Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) training(free of charge) at various locations across Sonoma County, including Sebastopol. All trainings are open to anyone who registers. A Spanish training is also available.

-image via Joanna Poe/Flickr