Santa Barbara, Calif. – The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office has been awarded more than $97,000 in grant funding from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) to battle alcohol-related crime. The funds will be used to boost enforcement efforts in the Isla Vista and Goleta communities. The goal is to reduce the number of alcoholic beverage sales to minors, illegal solicitations and possession of alcohol, as well as other criminal activities involving alcohol consumption and abuse.

Lieutenant John Maxwell, who oversees the Isla Vista Foot Patrol, said the funding will help provide a proactive approach to address alcohol-related issues that continue to negatively impact the Isla Vista community and surrounding areas.  He said, “This grant is important to enhance our efforts to protect the youth in our community by keeping alcohol away from minors and holding businesses who violate the law accountable.  The Sheriff’s Office greatly appreciates our partnership with California ABC in working to reduce the harm that results from alcohol-related crimes.”

The grant is one of many awarded in California to local law enforcement agencies through ABC’s Alcohol Policing Partnership Program (APP). These grants enhance public safety by combining the efforts of local law enforcement officers and ABC agents, who have expertise in alcoholic beverage laws and can help communities reduce alcohol-related problems.

APP was created in 1995 to strengthen partnerships between ABC and local law enforcement agencies. Since then, more than $20 million dollars have been distributed to local law enforcement to combat alcohol-related crime.

ABC is a Department of the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency.