All but one business refused to sell alcohol or tobacco to a minor during an annual compliance check conducted by the Benicia Police Department, the city announced in a news release.

During compliance checks, underage decoys attempt to purchase alcohol or tobacco from a selected retailer. If the business asks the minor for identification, as is required by state law, they pass the compliance check. If the business does not ask, they receive a citation from the Police Department. The decoy uses their own identification card, which clearly indicates they are a minor.

In May and June, 14 local businesses which sell alcohol and/or tobacco were visited by decoys. The tobacco checks were done in May, and the alcohol checks were done in June. Of all the stores, 13 asked the decoys for identification as they attempted to purchase alcohol or tobacco and then refused to sell it to them when they learned they were minors. The only store that failed the compliance check was at the  Columbus Parkway Chevron station’s Extra Mile store. A female decoy tried to buy a 24-ounce can of beer, and an employee– whose name was not identified in the news release– did not ask for her identification and sold her the beer. The Police Department issued the clerk a citation for furnishing alcohol to a person under 21.

The department commended the 13 businesses that complied with the law: Rose Market, Liquor Warehouse, Discount Cigarettes, SuperStop, Bob’s Food & Liquor, the Solano Square Chevron, Safeway, Texaco, Fast & Easy Mart, both 7-Elevens, Rite Aid and Cigarettes for Less.

In past years, the department has seen as many as five businesses fail to ask for identification, while in other years all businesses have complied.

The program is funded through the Police Department’s Youth Action Coalition and the Solano County Health & Social Services Department’s Alcohol, Tobacco & Other Drugs grant.

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