Really???? The police set up a sting operation to nab servers at Cafe Borrone, Bistro Vida and AMICI'S ??? Well, sure, it's illegal to sell alcoholic beverages to a minor, but these places hardly pose some kind of public nuisance -- they are family gathering spots. If the Menlo Park police want to keep our community safe, they should set up a sting operation for petty theft and burglaries in the neighborhoods and leave the few businesses that aren't going bankrupt alone.

Next on the police agenda should be to send minor decoys to teenage parties in Menlo Park and Atherton's private homes where parents are legally responsible for underage drinking. The pool houses are fully stocked, and many of the kids have so much money that they pay to have their parties cleaned up. It's a horrible epidemic.

Incredulous--your screen name is appropriate. Of course those places pose a public nuisance. They sell alcohol to minors! What's the difference if they are reputable places? They are contributing to the possiblity that these minors will not get drunk and do something to harm themselves and others, but will also probably share with their minor friends. Your perspective is incredulous! Their acts are illegal, and there is a reason for it. Since you see nothing wrong with it, maybe their next stakeout should be to watch you.

sorry, my statement "contributing to the possiblity that these minors will not get drunk and do something" was not supposed to have the word "not" inicluded.

"..the possiblity that these minors will (not <misplaced, got it>) get drunk and do something to harm themselves and others..."

A glass of wine for a 20 yr old at Borrone's? That's the danger we're talking about?

Agreed, it's wrong, the law is the law, but geez, is that the best place to make an impact on underage, and excessive adult, drinking?

Have to go with Fed Up on this one, except the hyperbole "epidemic". Unless the whole purpose of these exercises is to give the cadets something to do as "interns", I suppose.

Three points that are important.

1. This program is funded by a grant from the federal government that
MPPD had the foresight to apply for. The money to pay for comes
from that grant and has to be spent on the program. Kudos to both
MPPD for applying for the funding and to the Feds for providing it.

2. In order to preclude a charge of entrapment, local establishments/
stores (anyone who sells liquor, are warned in advance of the
"stings" (e.g. DUI checkpoints). Thus, if you get caught doing
this, your establishment controls likely really need work.

3. It is illegal to sell liquor to minors!!!!

While I'm all for internships and teens working to better their community, the whole purpose of these exercises should be to target the sources of underage drinking and broadcast loudly the consequences, which are vast and often times tearing apart families...bail, jail, months of classes/community service, and even prison. With all the research that's been done, parents and teens alike in this community turn their heads and say "well, it will never happen to me". Wake up, people! No one is invincible.....

Note that two programs were involved here:
1) Buying an alcoholic beverage at a restaurant - who cares?
2) Buying alcohol from a convenience or liquor store - that's what needs to be targeted.

How nice.....The MPPD managed to get an "adult" looking person to buy some form of alcohol at Cafe Barrone and Carpaccio's. Well done, its about time we closed down these businesses. The economy has not managed it, lets leave it to the overpaid and (clearly) under worked Police Dept. to do it.

Look nobody condones the sale of alcohol to minors, but these businesses are not the problem.......Strange how you can't have a drink with dinner if your 20.....But can sign up to have your legs blown off at 18..................

Lets prioritize what we are spending our tax money on.

"The program is funded by a grant from the federal government"

I don't blame the MP police department for taking advantage of this program (along with the Dept of Alcoholic Beverage control) - MP PD is doing its job.

But as taxpayers we should be thinking about how many federal programs there are like this and if the money is actually being well spent.

Amici's should be fined for their weak Caesar Salad

Did these grants cover ALL the costs of the program. Healthcare insurance and the pension for these police officers (overhead) or just their wages (usually the case)

Hmmm.....

I am sure that they police department didn't use adult looking teens to buy the drinks. These resturants should be and will be fined, but the real problem is the wait persons. It is thier resposbibility to check and I would check any one not 25.

Congrats to the police department and the ABC.

To A non moose & My Two Sense, and the other passive and indifferent commentors: If that one glass had actually, or eventually, been 2 or 3, and then that minor would have had a serious accident on the way home, you would probasbly be the first to call for the head of the restaurant owner. And how do you know that they were not also watching the convenience & liquor stores? Maybe those businesses are more painfully aware of the their own consequences, and now properly ID their customers. Unlike the more "upscale" places, who think they are above the law and common sense. That kind of attitude will cost them more business than will the police doing their jobs. In fact, I am a regular customer of 3 of those 4 places. Now that I know that they flaunt the law and create a nuisance, as well as danger, I will look for other places to spend my money. If the economy has hurt their businesses, then their own arrogance will certainly kill them.

PS to JoseyWales: Ditto on the Caesar.

bewildered: "If that one glass..."

If, if, if.... How about addressing the IS?

IS this the best place to make an impact on excessive adult and juvenile drinking, whether paid by the Feds or not?

IF it IS, then I'm guessing that the problem isn't as bad as everyone suggests. I have yet to see any indication that our drinking youth choose Borrones and the like as the place to get plastered.

One of my kids reminded me of a scene from Superbad, in which the cops announce that it's best to look for busts at restaurants or bars -- places where cops will be given free food and alcohol.

Surely it's not coincidental that the crimes-of-the-week appear to have been committed at some of the city's most popular eateries!

Teens like getting plastered....it's an epidemic. Then, they go off to college and abuse their independence and sometimes face states with laws that differ from Calif. They are blind to the fact that their actions during a drinking spell can land them in prison. It happened last year to a good, well-intentioned Menlo Park teen, who was convicted of a crime he did not commit, and sentenced to 8+ years in an out-of-state prison, when he could neither confirm or deny his actions because he drank way too much. Our establishments and families need to understand these consequences!!

"Teens like getting plastered"

Yes, at parties, but not at upscale restaurants.

Call me a tea bagger on this one: A grand waste of taxpayer money!

"They are blind to the fact that their actions during a drinking spell can land them in prison."

Rape is bad enough, but for the rapist to blame his crime on alcohol is even more reprehensible. Maybe those years in the slammer will allow him to grow up a little.