(Atlantic) The Atlantic Police Department is renewing its commitment to keeping tobacco, nicotine, and vapor products out of the hands of underage youth through the I-PLEDGE program.
Atlantic Police Sergeant Brock Thompson explains that I-PLEDGE is a partnership with the Iowa Department of Revenue that educates local retailers and enforces Iowa’s tobacco and vapor product laws. The program has been in place since 2000 and works to reduce underage access through education, retailer training, and compliance checks.
Thompson emphasizes that preventing underage access is a community effort.
Thompson says retail employees can become I-PLEDGE certified by completing online training and passing an accompanying exam. The training helps employees recognize illegal sales and understand how to refuse them properly.
As part of the program, Atlantic police officers will conduct compliance checks at local businesses. The checks involve underage individuals working under law enforcement supervision who attempt to purchase tobacco products to determine whether retailers are following the law.
The department encourages local businesses to train employees and refuse illegal sales.
