From The Bakersfield Californian comes the story of Operation Decoy Shoulder Tap: "Adults arrested on suspicion of buying alcohol for minors. Five people were arrested on suspicion of furnishing alcohol to minors in Bakersfield on Wednesday. Investigators from the Department of Alcohol Beverage Control used a program called 'Decoy Shoulder Tap' to target adults who buy alcohol for people under 21. During the program, a person under 21 working under direction of a peace officer indicates that he or she is not 21 and asks patrons to purchase alcohol. When the five adults complied, they were arrested and cited for furnishing alcohol to a minor. Those found guilty pay a minimum $1,000 fine and work 24 hours of community service."
Hey Mister usually was the only way to get booze as a teen growing up in Bakersfield. There were exceptions and one of them is you had someone with you ready to party who looked over 21. I knew someone who did indeed look over 21 and actually made some side income charging a small fee for his services.
You also knew you could buy booze at Hollywood Liquors if you were underage, Larson's drive-through would sell to you and so would Oaks End Liquors.
There was a small convenience store just a block or so from our high school. One evening, a friend and I seek to procure some adult beverages. I approach a man in the parking lot and ask him if he will assist us. He resists. I plead a bit. He still resists. I must have pleaded more. He must have still resisted.
So, desperate, and in the spirit of preaching the law of Karma, I tell him, "PLEASE DO THIS FOR US. The good you do will come back to you."
