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Yahoo!A joint sting operation by the Santa Barbara Sheriff and Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) resulted in clerks at three North County wineries — Casa Casara in Buellton, Artiste in Santa Ynez, and Blackjack Ranch in Solvang — being cited for selling alcohol to a minor on 12/28. Thirteen establishments in Buellton, Solvang, Los Olivos, and Santa Ynez were tested by a decoy working with the Sheriff and ABC. The clerks could each pay a $250 fine, while the wineries themselves could be fined and have their liquor license revoked or suspended.
Artiste spokesperson Christina LoCascio said in a statement the winery appreciated the efforts by the Sheriff’s Department to keep the Santa Ynez Valley vineyard scene safe and enjoyable. “While no one likes to be the center of this type of attention, we are looking at the incident as a positive reminder not only for ourselves but for all tasting room staff in the area that we need to be very vigilant in not only verifying IDs but also letting people know when they have had too much,” her statement read.
As of this article’s publication time, the other two wineries had not commented on the matter.
Adrian Castaneda is an Independent intern.
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Yeoman's work on the reporting, intern!
binky (anonymous profile)
January 3, 2008 at 4:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Who was the genius who suggested a sting on underage drinkers in wineries? Maybe this is the only way to get a Sheriff out of his cruiser? As a visitor to many wineries over the years I know the young prefer sweet spirits based coolers and beer to wine of any type and couldn't be bothered going to these places. If you really want to catch genuine underage drinkers stake out any liquor store on Friday or Saturday night and watch the young give money to someone to go in and buy their alcoholic drinks. Alternatively get the Sheriff to ratify their ID's. No kid worthy of his or her youth goes out without a false ID. My own kids did and we knew it and we often purchased their "supplies". I'd much rather know what they are drinking (light beer in my kids case) than let them loose on the rocket fuel their peers encourage them to drink. Don't tell me that's irresponsible because they start drinking around 15 whether you know it or not and that includes the Sheriff's kids. It's time we got over our obsession with under age drinking. Change the law to 18 like it is in most other first world countries then you have half a chance of keeping them off the booze until then. You have zero chance of holding back the tide to 21. After all, we can send them to Iraq or Afghanistan at this age but we can't let them have a drink.
jimjim (anonymous profile)
January 4, 2008 at 11:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
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