The Clovis Police Department and agents from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control arrested nine suspects Saturday during an operation targeting adults who purchase alcohol for minors.

Authorities said the arrests were made during a “Shoulder Tap” operation conducted in Clovis, in which a minor working under the supervision of law enforcement stood outside liquor or convenience stores and asked customers to buy alcohol while stating they were under 21 and unable to purchase it themselves.

Adults who agreed to buy the alcohol were arrested and cited for furnishing alcohol to a minor, police said.

Authorities said the penalty for furnishing alcohol to a minor includes a minimum $1,000 fine and 24 hours of community service.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about 25% of fatal crashes involve underage drinking.

The operation was funded through a grant from the ABC Alcohol Policing Partnership program.

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