POLICE STING THOSE WHO BUY ALCOHOL FOR TEENS.

Byline: Donna Huffaker Daily News Staff Writer

A tap on the shoulder followed by poor judgment led to 15 arrests for alcohol violations, Burbank police said Monday.

Detectives from the department's vice unit performed a sting operation Thursday and Friday nights by having teen-age girls approach liquor store patrons outside of various Burbank businesses and ask them to buy the girls beer, said Lt. Larry Koch.

The teen-agers, who work for the department as decoys during police stings, were required to tell the people whose shoulders they tapped that they were underage, Koch said.

Out of the 52 people who were asked by the girls to buy them beer, 15 agreed and purchased six packs, said Lt. Ed Skvarna, who was the operation supervisor. Once the suspects handed the alcohol to the minors, police officers moved in for the arrest, he said.

Each person received a citation and was released immediately, he said. They must appear in court and could face up to a $1,000 fine, Skvarna said.

The number of people who declined the girls' request for booze was refreshing, he said, noting some of the patrons whom they stopped even lectured the teens, saying that alcohol was bad for them.

During future alcohol stings, Skvarna said, police officers will reward people who not only refuse to buy alcohol for minors but also explain to them the ills of underage drinking. Those folks will receive free movie passes to AMC theaters, he said.

``These people should be commended. The majority of teens get their alcohol from some stranger who's willing to buy it for them. It's rare that kids are brave enough to go into a liquor store and try to buy it. They're afraid the police will come,'' Skvarna said.

Burbank police will continue alcohol sting operations as high school proms and graduations approach, he said.