The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) has barred BevMo! in Menlo Park from selling alcohol for 65 days after selling alcohol to minors on three occasions.
The Menlo Park Police Department conducted a series of Minor Decoy Operations thanks to three one-year grants which were used in conjunction with the ABC. Underage decoys were sent into Menlo Park businesses to buy alcohol, and businesses that sold to them received citations.
ABC agents posted a 65-day license suspension at BevMo!, located at 700 El Camino Real near Burgess Park, which cannot sell alcohol until Nov. 11. The store's alcohol license will be on probationary status for the next three years, according to a Sept. 7 press release from Menlo Park police. If another violation occurs, its liquor license could be fully revoked.
On Friday morning, Sept. 8, the Menlo Park BevMo! was closed. Several would-be customers approached the door, read the large sign posted there, and turned away disappointed. Store representative could not immediately be reached for comment.
Comments
Registered user
Menlo Park: Allied Arts/Stanford Park
on Sep 8, 2023 at 1:08 pm
Registered user
on Sep 8, 2023 at 1:08 pm
I'm really surprised with this. When even I go into BevMo to purchase even non-alcoholic beverages, they ask to see my drivers license....and I'm a senior!
Registered user
Woodside: other
on Sep 8, 2023 at 1:14 pm
Registered user
on Sep 8, 2023 at 1:14 pm
I'm all for our police and sheriff's departments enforcing the law.
But with the recent increase in serious crimes - residential burglaries, vehicle break-in, catalytic converter thefts, vandalism, smash-and-grab retail burglaries and fentanyl use, perhaps selling beer to someone who is a year or two underage should have a very low priority for our cops.
Registered user
Menlo Park: The Willows
on Sep 8, 2023 at 3:18 pm
Registered user
on Sep 8, 2023 at 3:18 pm
I'm surprised it took 3 violations before they suspended their license... and only for 65 days. I would have hoped BevMo would have cracked down on this after the first violation...
Registered user
Menlo Park: other
on Sep 9, 2023 at 12:01 pm
Registered user
on Sep 9, 2023 at 12:01 pm
Congrats to the people who just went on unemployment. Not sure who's getting sanctioned here -- the store or the contributors to EDD. Collateral damage?
Registered user
Menlo Park: The Willows
on Sep 9, 2023 at 9:34 pm
Registered user
on Sep 9, 2023 at 9:34 pm
I am pretty surprised by this as I was carded every time I go in. I would hope that the clerks that sold alcohol to minors were terminated immediately. There really is no excuse for that. As the stings go I don't believe they use fake ID's or anything that might be in a grey area. If it was the same clerk each time I hope they fine that person as well. As for the employees I doubt they were all laid off or are on Unemployment. Though I don't know for sure, BevMo has many locations nearby and they are probably working in one of those..
Registered user
Menlo Park: Linfield Oaks
on Sep 11, 2023 at 12:17 pm
Registered user
on Sep 11, 2023 at 12:17 pm
My husband and son went to BevMo, and son (who is >21, but did not have ID with him) helped carry some items to the counter. BevMo refused to sell the alcohol to my husband, who did have ID (and is also >21). They seem so ultra careful, understandably so, really surprised this happened as they always check ID.
I also question using police resources for what amounts to entrapment, even if the courts allow it, but I guess it's a fun activity for the police, whereas ticketing reckless drivers or trying to promote bicycle/ped safety is not.
Registered user
Woodside: Emerald Hills
on Sep 12, 2023 at 9:41 am
Registered user
on Sep 12, 2023 at 9:41 am
An absurd waste of government resources. The penalty is grotesquely disproportionate.
Please focus efforts on property and violent crimes of which we are oversupplied.
Registered user
Menlo Park: The Willows
on Sep 14, 2023 at 10:37 am
Registered user
on Sep 14, 2023 at 10:37 am
First off this program is funded by a grant and not coming out of the MP budget. Second, having kids, I support this effort. It is not entrapment as no one is forced, coerced or tricked into committing the crime. Underage drinking is a problem, especially when you couple it with driving which in common. Kids do not understand how to drink responsibly and need to have some maturity. Unfortunately I know many 21 and older that also lack the maturity and ability to drink responsibly.
Registered user
Woodside: other
on Sep 14, 2023 at 10:46 am
Registered user
on Sep 14, 2023 at 10:46 am
Yes, underage drinking is a problem.
But when you go out to your car in the morning and find your catalytic converter has stolen and you can't take your kids to school, and you'll have to spend a couple of days trying to find a shop to replace it and spending a couple of thousand dollars to fix it... or when you come home to find your home has been burglarized and you have to secure and replace the broken window, figure out what's stolen, file an insurance claim and try to calm your family down about it... or when you find your car windows have been smashed after going to dinner in San Francisco and have to drive home and leave your vehicle unsecured with broken windows...
...then, perhaps you can see that having your police spending time and effort to arrange a sting to pursue some dumb store clerk for selling beer to a 19 year old is pretty unsatisfying. High fives!!!
PRIORITIES.