Press Release: Monterey County Sheriff’s Office and ABC Cites Clerks for Selling Alcohol to Minors
DATE/TIME: 4/6/26 at 3:30 PM
TYPE OF INCIDENT: Monterey County Sheriff's Office and ABC Cite Clerks for Selling Alcohol to Minors
MEDIA CONTACT: Andres Rosas, Commander; Phone: 831-261-5492; Email: rosasae@countyofmonterey.gov
Monterey County, CA – The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, along with agents of the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) have cited four (4) clerks for selling alcohol to minors between 4/03/2026 and 4/04/2026. The actions were the result of a Minor Decoy operation in which minors under the direct supervision of department agents, attempted to purchase alcohol from 14 retail licensees in Monterey County. Attempts to purchase alcohol at convenience/liquor stores were met with negative results. All four subjects cited were at Restaurant/Bar locations in the City of Salinas and Carmel Valley.
Cited were Carlos Zarazua, Age 54; Diego Gonzalez-Reyes, age 52; Juanita Galvez, age 33; and Cassandra Rios, age 22.
Clerks who sold to a minor face a minimum fine of $250, and 24 to 32 hours of community service for a first violation. In addition, ABC may take administrative action against the alcoholic beverage license of the business where alcohol was sold to a minor. That may include a fine, suspension, or the permanent revocation of the license.
Monterey County Sheriff Tina Nieto stated, “This past weekend there were two alcohol-related fatal crashes that involved adult drivers, one taking the life of a 16-year-old young man. This underscores that impaired driving is a lifelong responsibility. Education and awareness must reach every level of our community. That means holding businesses and individuals accountable for the unlawful sale of alcohol to minors. By starting these conversations early and reinforcing them over time, we can help prevent the tragedies we have recently experienced.”
“Licensees should always check identification before selling alcohol,” said ABC Director Paul Tupy. “Our roadways and communities see improved safety when we prevent access to people not old enough to legally purchase alcohol.”
Statistics have shown that young people under the age of 21 have a much higher risk of being involved in a crash than older drivers. About 25 percent of fatal crashes involve underage drinking according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Minor Decoy operations have been conducted by local law enforcement throughout the state since the 1980s. When the program first began, the violation rate of retail establishments selling to minors was as high as 40 to 50 percent. When conducted on a routine basis, the rate has dropped to below 10 percent in some cities. In 1994, the California Supreme Court ruled unanimously that use of minor decoys is a valid legal tool of law enforcement to make sure that licensees are complying with the law.
Funding for this program was provided by a grant from ABC through the department’s Alcohol Policing Partnership (APP) program.
About the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control
The mission of the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control is to provide the highest level of service and public safety to the people of the State through licensing, education, and enforcement.