2007 Tobacco Compliance Check Failure Rate is High

Source from:  kolnkgin.com Lincoln, Neb. Jan 3, 2008 01/04/2008

Of the 388 tobacco retailers that were checked in 2007, 64 -- or 16.5 percent -- sold tobacco products to minors. The Lincoln Police Department and Lincoln Lancaster County Health Department collaborate to conduct the compliance checks of area tobacco retailers. "It's troubling that sales to minors happen so often," said Pam Rowe, Community Health Educator at the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department. "Research shows that youth are less likely to use tobacco products when the failure rate is kept below 10 percent," added Rowe. Tobacco compliance checks are conducted in Lancaster County to assess whether retailers sell tobacco products to minors. Nebraska state law says that no tobacco products can be sold to youth under the age of 18. "Compliance" means that retailers obey the law and refuse to sell tobacco products to youth. Despite new identification licenses that specifically show whether someone is a minor, some tobacco retailers still sell after checking the IDs. During the latest round of checks, four of the five retailers that sold to a minor asked to see an ID, but sold tobacco even after discovering the teens were underage, said Lincoln Police Capt. Joy Citta. The fifth store didn't ask to see an ID. During the checks, cooperating minors use their own identification and make no attempt to deceive their age. The minors travel with local law enforcement officers and attempt to purchase tobacco products from randomly selected retailers in the community. If a retailer refuses to make the sale, a congratulatory letter is sent to the business saying that an employee successfully refused selling tobacco to a minor. If an illegal sale is made, a law enforcement officer immediately issues a citation to the employee for selling tobacco to a minor. Also, a new study shows teens may be getting the idea to smoke not from other teens, but their smoking parents. In fact, the study shows 90 percent of all adult smokers started smoking when they were children. Each day, more than 4,400 children are becoming regular smokers. Experts say don't lecture your child, but stress the natural rewards that come with not smoking, like better atheltic performance and improved appearance. Enditem