The largest decoy operation in California was conducted Saturday afternoon to cite or arrest adults who provide alcohol to minors.
It's called 'Operation Shoulder Tap', and officers were out in Kern County sending a clear message to adults, if you provide or purchase alcohol for people under the age of 21, you may pay a stiff fine or see possible jail time.
The decoy operation was conducted two days before one of the biggest alcohol consumption days, St. Patrick's Day.
"Its a huge alcohol consumption weekend for everybody, adults, minors included -- trying to obtain alcoholic beverages and we're going to send a message here that it is a crime to provide alcohol to minors," said Josh Porter, California Alcoholic Beverage Control.
During the operation, officers sent two underage girls to act as decoys and ask adults to purchase them alcohol.
Some adults simply refused, others notified store employees, but one man agreed.
Officers said the man took the money from the girls, and when he came back out of the store with beer in hand, he led the girls around the corner and placed the beer on the ground. That's when officers moved in.
Bakersfield Police cited Michael Collins Jr. a misdemeanor for furnishing alcohol to a minor.
Collins Jr. told officers the girls said they were 21.
"The suspect is given every opportunity not to commit the crime in this case, the gentlemen made the wrong decision," said Porter.
A judge can levy a fine ranging from $250 to $1,000.
California ABC says over the past two years, decoy operations have resulted in nearly 900 citations or arrests.