Jump to full article: Muscatine (IA) Journal, 2008-07-06
Author: Jennifer Meyer of the Muscatine Journal
Intro: An employee cited for selling tobacco products to a minor is the last thing Hy-Vee manager Jeff Canfield says he wants to see at the store.
Lt. Jeff Jirak, who oversees the Muscatine Police Department's tobacco sales compliance program, said he does not want to see employees cited either.
Retailers can help prevent sales clerks from being cited by providing thorough training, Jirak said. . . .
So far, the police department has issued nine violations this year to employees who sold tobacco products to minors.
The compliance checks are one part of the Iowa Pledge Education and Enforcement Program, launched in spring 2000 and funded from a settlement between the state and several tobacco companies, according to the Alcoholic Beverages Division.
Jirak said state officials will conduct the checks if local law enforcement does not, "but we're believers that Muscatine is our responsibility."
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