A bartender in Clovis has been cited for selling alcohol to minors during a Minor Decoy operation conducted Tuesday by the Clovis Police Department and the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, police said in a statement.

A spokesperson for the Clovis Police Department told GV Wire that the bartender that sold was at Fusion Indian Cuisine & Bar.

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Police said the operation involved minors, under direct supervision of agents, attempting to purchase alcohol from nine retail licensees in the city.

The bartender faces a minimum fine of $250 and 24 to 32 hours of community service for a first-time offense, authorities said.

ABC may also impose administrative penalties on the establishment, ranging from fines to license suspension or revocation.

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“Conducting these operations allow us to help reduce underage drinking and increase public safety,” said Clovis Police Corp. Sean O’Brien.

ABC Director Joseph McCullough emphasized the importance of vigilance by businesses. “Preventing access to people not old enough to legally purchase alcohol improves safety on our roadways and in our communities,” he said.

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

Minor Decoy operations, first implemented statewide in the 1980s, have significantly reduced violation rates, dropping from as high as 50% to below 10% in some areas, police said.

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