As the Iowa State Fair Winds Down, the Alcoholic Beverages Division's
Tobacco Enforcement Program is Just Gearing Up
Contact: Lynn M. Walding, Administrator 515.281-7402 / 515.229.7777
This year’s State Fair has drawn to a close and teens, heads
filled with thoughts of teachers, homework, new school clothes and
reunions with friends, embark on a new school year. Yet for some,
the Iowa State Fair will be more than a memory.
Approximately 128 youth were cited during the Fair for underage
possession of tobacco products. What does this mean for teens cited
for smoking? The law states that a first offense of youth tobacco
possession is a simple misdemeanor that carries a $50 fine, along
with the possibility of 8 hours of community service.
In the spirit of treating everyone fairly, 10 individuals were cited
for supplying tobacco products to a minor, and compliance checks
were completed on each retailer at least twice with some getting
checked three times during the Fair. Only one retailer sold during
the compliance checks; that retailer will face a $300 civil penalty
and the clerk that sold the tobacco faces a simple misdemeanor charge,
carrying a $100 fine.
Lynn Walding, Administrator of the Alcoholic Beverages Division
added, “Overall, the program is proceeding as planned. The
state’s tobacco initiative hopes to sensitize the public to
issues of youth tobacco consumption; the picture of young people
smoking has become so commonplace we forget that it is not only
illegal, but also extremely detrimental to young Iowans’ health.
We feel that to achieve this end, the tobacco initiative must take
a comprehensive approach and demand that all actors behave responsibly,
from teens, to clerks, to retailers.”
Charges for youth and clerks will be brought before the Polk County
Attorney. Penalties for tobacco retailers, however, are brought
before the permit issuing authority, which is the city of Des Moines
in this case.
The Alcoholic Beverages Division coordinated with the Iowa Department
of Public Safety to provide two state troopers to patrol the State
Fairgrounds and cite minors for illegal possession of cigarettes
and other tobacco products; state troopers normally assigned to
the State Fair also cited youth tobacco violators.
The Alcoholic Beverages Division is gearing up its tobacco enforcement
program, and is focused on developing an educational program for
law enforcement, local tobacco permit issuing authorities, and tobacco
retailers; securing a full-time staff; and developing contracts
for local law enforcement in conjunction with the Iowa Department
of Public Health.
The Alcoholic Beverages Division is undertaking a $1.7 million statewide
tobacco enforcement effort funded by Iowa’s tobacco settlement.
Alcoholic Beverages Division’s Iowa State Fair Tobacco Enforcement
Stats
- Out of approximately 128 youth cited at the Iowa State Fair
for tobacco possession, 50, or 39% were female and 78, or 61%
were male
- The majority of youth cited were residents of the Des Moines
area, with 83, or 67% of all youth cited. Conversely, 7, or 6%
of youth cited are out-of-state residents.
- The 7 youth cited for underage possession were visiting from
states including Ohio, Florida, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska.
- The age range for youth cited during the Fair range from 13
to 17 years old.
|
AGE
|
# of CITATIONS
|
% of TOTAL
|
|
13
|
4
|
3%
|
|
14
|
12
|
9%
|
|
15
|
24
|
19%
|
|
16
|
37
|
29%
|
|
17
|
51
|
40%
|
- Ten citations were issued to individuals over 18 that supplied
tobacco products to minors.
- One clerk and one retailer were also cited for selling tobacco
products to a minor; the clerk
faces a $100 fine and a simple misdemeanor charge, while the retailer
faces a $300 civil
penalty.
- The number of youth citations issued each day of the Fair is
illustrated in the following:
|
DATE CITED
|
# of YOUTH CITATIONS ISSUED
|
|
August 10
|
26
|
|
August 11
|
19
|
|
August 12
|
26
|
|
August 13
|
18
|
|
August 14
|
8
|
|
August 15
|
1
|
|
August 16
|
7
|
|
August 17
|
16
|
|
August 18
|
7
|
|
August 19
|
4
|
|
August 20
|
6
|
Stiffer Penalties for Tobacco Violations include the following:
- Youth cited for tobacco possession face a simple misdemeanor
charge, fines from $50 to $250, and community service from 8 to
16 hours.
- Retailers that sell cigarettes or tobacco products to minors
face a $300 penalty for a first offense, up to tobacco permit
revocation for the 4th and subsequent violations.
- Clerks selling cigarettes or tobacco products face a simple
misdemeanor charge with fines from $100 to $500.
|
