Shoulder Tap Crime Case Study

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A shoulder tap crime occurs when a person asks another person to buy them something they are unable to purchase themselves. It generally happens when a minor asks an adult to purchase alcohol for them. This method places an underage person in front of a liquor store and taps the shoulders of adults entering the business asking if they would purchase alcohol for them and also informing them they are underage (Baer, 2010). Strict liability crimes are crimes in which the legislature interest is in promoting public safety and this justifies strict regulation of acts that threaten public safety. Selling alcohol to minors falls under strict liability. Bars or stores that sell alcohol to minors can be criminally liable under the state underage …show more content…

The defendant unlawfully purchased, furnished, gave, or gave away an alcoholic beverage to a person under the age of 21 (Justia, 2016).
2. When the person gave away the alcoholic beverage the recipient was under the age of 21 (Justia, 2016).
3. The person who is under the age of 21 did consume the beverage (Justia, 2016).
4. The person who consumed the alcoholic beverage caused death or great bodily injury either to himself or to another person (Justia, 2016).
A person who is hosting a party with both adults and minors should be held to the same standards as a restaurant or a store that sells alcohol. When a person hosts a party, they know the people who are attending. They would know who was of age and who was underage. Furthermore, if the host wasn’t sure if a person was of age it wouldn’t take but a minute to look at a person’s identification to determine if they are of age or not. Exactly what a restaurant or store would do. There is no excuse to allow a minor to have access to alcohol or serve a minor …show more content…

These businesses are trained in what to look for in fake identification. They also deal with more people through their daily business than what a host of party would see. Since business see more people and unfamiliar people, unlike a host of a party, they need to be very consistent in asking for identification and making sure the identification is real. In addition, because they serve more people throughout their business day, they have the potential to supply a greater number of minor’s alcohol. This is why it is so important businesses and other establishments that serve alcohol need to be held to a higher standard and not be allowed exceptions to the law. If the identification is in question, it is better to refuse the sale and be safe, than sell to a minor which resulted in great bodily harm or death to themselves or

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