Shoulder tap (Yonkyō) is also the name of an Aikido

Aikido

is a Japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba as a synthesis of his martial studies, philosophy, and religious beliefs. Aikido is often translated as "the Way of unifying life energy" or as "the Way of harmonious spirit." Ueshiba's goal was to create an art that practitioners could use to...

 move.

A shoulder tap is an act in which a minor asks an adult to purchase alcohol

Alcoholic beverage

An alcoholic beverage is a drink containing ethanol, commonly known as alcohol. Alcoholic beverages are divided into three general classes: beers, wines, and spirits. They are legally consumed in most countries, and over 100 countries have laws regulating their production, sale, and consumption...

 for him or her. Typically, the minor will walk around a convenience store

Convenience store

A convenience store, corner store, corner shop, commonly called a bodega in Spanish-speaking areas of the United States, is a small store or shop in a built up area that stocks a range of everyday items such as groceries, toiletries, alcoholic and soft drinks, and may also offer money order and...

 and solicit help from a passing adult stranger.

This is also commonly known as a "Hey Mister".

In 2001, a Mothers Against Drunk Driving

Mothers Against Drunk Driving

Mothers Against Drunk Driving is a non-profit organization in the United States that seeks to stop drunk driving, support those affected by drunk driving, prevent underage drinking, and overall push for stricter alcohol policy...

 chapter conducted a small unscientific study in Massachusetts

Massachusetts

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...

, in which teens stood in front of 15 stores and asked 100 adults apparently over the age of 21 to buy them alcohol. Eighty-three of the 100 adults refused and only 17 agreed.

Communities seeking to curb the illegal avenue to underage alcohol use federal and state grants to conduct police sting operation

Sting operation

In law enforcement, a sting operation is a deceptive operation designed to catch a person committing a crime. A typical sting will have a law-enforcement officer or cooperative member of the public play a role as criminal partner or potential victim and go along with a suspect's actions to gather...

s to deter adult assistance. The programs may begin with underage decoys in front of stores asking adults to buy alcohol and depending upon the answer, the decoy may give a green "thank you" card to adults who refuse and a red reprimand card to those who agree. Later stings in the area can involve arrests and prosecution for furnishing alcohol to minors, an offense punished usually by probation or a fine.

California ABC Shoulder Tap Operations

The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC), in conjunction with local law enforcement, conducts shoulder tap operations wherein a minor decoy asks a patron entering a store to purchase an alcoholic beverage on the minor’s behalf. If the patron purchases an alcoholic beverage and furnishes it to the minor decoy, the licensee is likely to face administrative action by the ABC in addition to possible criminal penalties.

External links

• Shoulder Tap Program