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Tobacco Prevention & Control Program
Tobacco Retailers - Compliance Checks
Retailer education classes
Retailer education classes are being offered through the Public Health
Department on tobacco compliance checks. To ask questions or to schedule a training please
email health.promotion@co.kittitas.wa.us
‡.
Information will be given on how to check WA state ID's, what the fines are for
selling tobacco, and how to stay in compliance with state regulations on being a
tobacco retailer. This will be a great opportunity to ask questions about the
process of doing tobacco compliance checks. You can set up a training in your
business or at the local health department.
What are compliance checks?
http://www.doh.wa.gov/Tobacco/compliance/youthaccess.htm
How are we doing?
Kittitas County Public Health Department was required to conduct compliance checks at 24 establishments in
Kittitas County during 2009. No tobacco was sold during any of these attempts, giving a compliance rate of 100%.
In addition to the required inspections, nine additional compliance checks were conducted within the county.
Four of these additional attempts resulted in the sale of tobacco to a minor. This gives a compliance
rate of 56% for the additional checks, and a compliance rate of 88% overall.
Sales to minors and compliance checks
Never sell tobacco to anyone under the age of 18!
- The current percentage of 12th graders using smokeless tobacco (chew) in
Kittitas County is higher (14.2%) than the Washington State (8.6%) and
national (8.0%) averages.
- More high school seniors in Kittitas County (27%) report smoking than
the state average (20%).
- Many youth begin using tobacco as young as 12 or 13 years old.
- Each year 7,000 Washington youth begin using tobacco. Over 2,000 of them
will die prematurely because of it.
Tobacco retailers and cashiers have a critical role to play in helping to
reduce underage tobacco use. If you are a tobacco retailer, we ask that you help
keep our children healthy and don't sell tobacco products to minors!
Tips for cashiers
- Ask for ID for anyone who appears to be younger than 30. Acceptable
Forms of ID are: Washington State driver's license or instructional permit,
United States armed forces ID card, merchant marine ID card, Department of
Licensing ID card, official passport, official ID from Washington State
Liquor Control Board.
- Don't do the math in your head - use the register every time!
- Know your store's policies around selling tobacco products.
- You don't have to explain why you refuse a sale - refer the customer to
your manager or owner.
Tips for store owners
The Tobacco Warning Sign is required at each location where tobacco products
are sold.
Helpful links
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