Once again the Sierra County Tobacco Use Reduction Program and Sierra County Friday Night Live conducted an annual Youth Tobacco Purchase Survey (YTPS) of all retailers in Sierra County selling tobacco products.  This year 4 of the 7 stores surveyed sold tobacco products to minors.  

YTPS is used as a means of assisting tobacco retailers by informing them whether or not employees are following proper procedure and guidelines for requesting identification of underage tobacco purchasers. A sales clerk who correctly follows the proper procedures and guidelines for requesting identification during the purchase of tobacco products are assets to our communities. They help in reducing illegal tobacco sales to minors and help in protecting our youth from the dangers of tobacco use.

Sheriff John Evans and Laurie Marsh, Health Educator, visited all of the retailers indicating whether or not a sale was made to a minor. During the visit they let the store owner or manager know that the Tobacco Use Reduction Program offers free Tobacco Retailer Training to merchants and their employees. The visits were made at the suggestion of the Sierra County Drug and Alcohol Advisory Board/Tobacco Coalition.

Friday Night Live and the Sierra County Drug and Alcohol Advisory Board/Tobacco Coalition are looking to find practical solutions to the problem of illegal tobacco sales to minors in our communities because the sales rate to minors has increased over the last three years.  If you would like to participate in this process, please call 993-6745 or email prevention@sierracounty.ws.