Last Friday, members of the Benicia Police Department’s Investigations Unit conducted one of its minor decoy alochol sales operations at various local businesses that sell alcohol. As part of the program, a minor female decoy was used to attempt to purchase alcohol from the establishments to reinforce the underage drinking law and let officers know if business employees are complying or not.

At the 10 businesses, nine of them refused to sell alcohol to the minor after looking at her identification card and seeing that she was not old enough to purchase alcohol. However, a 56-year-old employee at the Solano Square Chevron station’s Extra Mile store was caught selling a beer to the minor even after asking her for identification. The employee was issued a citation by the Police Department for furnishing alcohol to a person under 21, and he was released at the scene.

The tobacco and alcohol compliance checks are performed up to five times a year and are funded through a grant by the Solano County Board of Supervisors’ Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs Prevention Program. In some years, the department has had all businesses comply, but other years have seen as many as five establishments fail to ask for identification. The department aims for all businesses to abide by the law, which it says will be beneficial for the businesses, the youth and community at large.

“The goal of the program is zero sales, zero citations and healthier youth,” Lt. Scott Przekurat said. “Total compliance with both tobacco and alcohol sales laws is the department’s mission.”

The department praised the other businesses that complied: Liquor Warehouse, CVS, Bob’s Food & Liquor, Superstop, Rose Market, Safeway, Rite Aid, Raley’s and the Chevron station on Columbus Parkway.

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