Youth decoys to help stop illegal tobacco sales

The American Lung Association of Central California has received a grant from the California Department of Health Services, Tobacco Control Section to document how easily available tobacco products are to minors. More than 475 youth, 14 to 16 years of age, have been recruited to date to participate throughout all counties in California, and an additional 350 youth are needed to fully staff the program.

Under the STAKE Act program, teens complete undercover field operations with the help of an adult staff investigator of the California Department of Health Services Food and Drug Branch, to ensure that retailers are not selling tobacco products to minors.

The underage teen walks into retail stores, asks for cigarettes and then walks out. If a vendor sells the teen a tobacco product, the teen will hand over the tobacco to the investigator, who is present the entire time. Investigators then issue a citation to the retailer after the teen exits the store.

Teen volunteers will receive a $5 stipend per store visited regardless of whether a sale is made or not. For information and to receive an application, call Emmanuel Torres at (877) 7825348 or visit www.stakeact.com.