Police complete ABC Grant Program aimed to reduce alcohol-related harm
Published on July 21, 2023
Menlo Park, Calif. — Menlo Park Police Department (MPPD) have completed a $70,300 grant from the California Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) to battle alcohol-related harm.
Over the last year, MPPD and ABC agents completed 37 different operations. One of these operations is called a Minor Decoy operation, where minors under the direct supervision of MPPD officers and ABC agents attempt to purchase alcohol from retail licensees in Menlo Park. If the business sells alcohol to the minor, the clerk can be cited for furnishing alcohol to a minor and the business faces administrative penalties. The result of these operations found there was a 45% failure rate among businesses where minors were furnished alcohol.
In total, the grant resulted in 151 citations, increased visits to ABC licensed businesses and a stronger bond between community members and law enforcement.
Menlo Park Police Chief Dave Norris said "Partnerships like the one MPPD shares with ABC help us stay proactive in protecting our youth from easy access to alcohol, and helps prevent problems and tragedies that might result. This relationship also allows us to remain in check with our local businesses, providing crucial education to merchants and servers so that they too may remain proactive in this prevention initiative."
The grant was one of 27 awarded in California to local law enforcement agencies through ABC’s Alcohol Policing Partnership (APP) program.
The grant program has helped strengthen local law enforcement efforts by combining the resources of local police officers and ABC agents. ABC agents have expertise in alcoholic beverage laws to help communities reduce alcohol-related harm.
“The APP program improves the quality of life in neighborhoods,” said ABC Director Eric Hirata. “We’ve seen a real difference in the communities where the grant program resources have been invested.”
The APP program was created in 1995 to strengthen partnerships between ABC and local law enforcement agencies. The program is designed keep alcohol away from minors and prevent harm to the community.
The funds were used to reduce the number of alcoholic beverage sales to minors, obviously intoxicated patrons, illegal solicitations of alcohol, and other criminal activities such as the sale and possession of illegal drugs.
The APP Program has distributed over $50 million to local law enforcement to combat alcohol-related harm.
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Contact:
Officer Galen Fliege
gpfliege@menlopark.gov
650-330-6300