Pasadena Police Seek Grant to Target Underage Alcohol Sales

Pasadena police want to turn up the pressure on businesses that sell alcohol to minors and adults who buy it for them, using a state grant the City Council will consider Tuesday.

The $25,000 award would support enforcement efforts in a city with approximately 380 active retail alcohol licensees. The money would cover police overtime, benefits, travel and training reimbursements, with no city matching funds required.

“The City of Pasadena has several areas where alcohol-related incidents occur that negatively impact the quality of life for residents, business owners, and visitors,” according to the Police Department’s staff report.

The grant comes through the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control’s ABC-OTS program, supported by the Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The grant period runs from Oct. 1, 2026, through Aug. 31, 2027.

The statewide program seeks to reduce alcohol sales to minors, target adults who furnish alcohol to them and conduct inspections stressing education for licensed businesses, according to the report.

Businesses selling alcoholic beverages generate patrol calls involving public intoxication and disorderly conduct, the report states.

The department has received similar grants to help prevent fatal and injury crashes involving young people, increase public awareness and reduce alcohol-related crime. Previous efforts also have sought to curb “shoulder tap” activity, in which minors ask adults to buy alcohol for them near businesses selling alcoholic beverages.

Staff recommends that the council authorize receipt of the award, allow the city manager to execute grant-related documents and amend the Police Department’s fiscal year 2027 operating budget to recognize and appropriate the money in the general fund.

The council also will consider finding the grant activity exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act because it would have no possibility of significantly affecting the environment, according to the report.