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New Good Sign-Lack of Tobacco Sales to Minors

Published: 2010-10-06    Views:71 reads

 

Brief: Eighteen Muskogee stores were targeted by a recent undercover program to find out if retailers check ID before selling tobacco products.

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Eighteen Muskogee stores were targeted by a recent undercover program to find out if retailers check ID before selling tobacco products.

Four stores sold.

Not perfect, but not terrible.

For those who didn't sell, good job. For those who did, we hope you learned your lesson.

The Area Prevention Resource Center conducted the program, so the four establishments which sold weren't fined, since the Eufaula-based office has no law-enforcement power.

The program recruits student volunteers who are 16 to 17 to enter stores. The volunteers never touch the product, nor do they take any money into the store.

Adults with the program supervise the volunteers during the attempted purchase.

After the attempted purchase, a card is presented to the retailer — one that shows appreciation for checking ID or one that says "you could be fined for this" if they did not.

If a clerk asks for ID, the volunteer leaves. If they ring up the purchase, that's when they are presented a card.

The group, which reports to the Department of Mental Health, has been conducting the check since July.

We are glad the group does the "Reward Reminder" program. It likely prevents clerks from selling to underage buyers in the long run. And if the group finds significant selling, law enforcement should follow up on the findings and conduct their own sting.