STINGS

The Investigative Division has, since 1994, conducted so called "stings" against retail licensees (both pouring licenses and package stores) to address the problem of sales to persons under the legal age of twenty-one years old. The Investigative Division has executed these "sting" operations in cooperation and coordination with police departments throughout Massachusetts. Although facing persistent legal challenge from licenses, these "sting" operations as conducted by the ABCC Investigators have, thus far, survived challenge. In fact, most recently, in rejecting a challenge to the legality of the "sting" operations as being in violation of the Fourth Amendment, a Superior Court justice noted that "the development of thorough and detailed guidelines, such as those used by the ABCC, is the preferred practice for implementing sting operations involving minors."