City Of Marion: Marion Police To Partner With Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division

Press release from the City of Marion:

09/20/2021 2:47 PM

Marion Police Department has taken a pledge to keep tobacco, alternative nicotine, and vapor products out of the hands of underage persons, locally.

Known as I-PLEDGE, the program is a partnership with the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division (ABD) to educate local retailers and to enforce (if necessary) Iowa’s tobacco, alternative nicotine, and vapor product laws. Since the program’s inception in 2000, the statewide tobacco compliance rate has grown to 95%. By participating in the program, the Marion Police Department has committed to do its part to increase the compliance rate even more this year.

I-PLEDGE places emphasis on retailer training. Clerks who successfully complete an online training course and then pass an exam will become I-PLEDGE certified. This allows a retail establishment to use an affirmative defense against a civil penalty if the certified clerk makes an illegal sale.

I-PLEDGE’s retailer training is a great way for clerks to prepare themselves to refuse illegal tobacco, alternative nicotine, and vapor product sales. The training also assists retailers to ensure that they maintain a compliant and responsible establishment.

Sometime next month, the Marion Police will also be conducting compliance checks on local establishments as part of the I-PLEDGE program. Underage customers, under the supervision of law enforcement officials, will enter area businesses and attempt to buy tobacco, alternative nicotine, and vapor products. Clerks who make illegal sales will be cited on the spot.

Criminal penalties for selling tobacco, alternative nicotine, and vapor products to an underage purchaser will include a $135 fine for a first offense, a $325 fine for second offense, and a $645 fine for a third or each subsequent offense. However, handing out citations is not the intent of the I-PLEDGE program.

By partnering with the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division, we hope to educate clerks and maintain a compliant retail environment within our community. Moreover, we pledge to help keep tobacco, alternative nicotine, and vapor products away from underaged Iowans.

For additional information, go to http://abd.iowa.gov/.

This press release was produced by the City of Marion. The views expressed here are the author’s own.