The importance of enforcing the state’s youth access law is indisputable and the premise is extremely simple – if youth can’t get tobacco, they are less likely to use it. Mississippi is one of the few states in the nation that can boast having a 97 percent retailer compliance rate in keeping tobacco out of the hands of minors.
Law enforcement is traditionally under-funded and overworked. Adding more enforcement efforts to already stressed agencies is usually unwelcome. However, as an invitation to learn more about how their efforts could work well for the tobacco prevention movement, The Partnership extended a hand to Mississippi’s law enforcement community.
Investigators from the Attroney General's office lead this effort. Since 1998, the violation rate of tobacco sales to minors has dropped from 32.7 percent to a record 3.2 percent.
And it doesn’t stop there. While clerks are busy checking IDs before selling tobacco products, they are also checking them before selling beer. The practice is creating a renewed emphasis on keeping these products out of the hands of children, too.
