Two businesses fail compliance checks

The Nebraska State Patrol conducted checks of underage tobacco retail compliance as part of the Tobacco Free in the Panhandles comprehensive plan to keep youth from starting to use tobacco products. Officers with the assistance of youth under the age of 18 checked 10 convenience stores, grocery stores and liquor stores throughout the cities of Sidney and Kimball in March.

Of the 10 establishments, eight did not sell tobacco to the underage person. The two businesses that did sell tobacco were:

• Two J’s Liquor, 1500 Illinois St., Sidney. Second fail in the past 12 months.

• Woody’s Liquor & Sporting Goods, 208 E 3rd Street, Kimball.

Businesses that passed the compliance check were: The Post, Safeway, and Git’N Split in Sidney and Kwik Stop, Main Street Market, Sportsman’s Liquor, Vince’s Corner and Dollar General in Kimball.

“A failure rate of 20 prcent raises concerns and shows us there continues to be a need for education and training,” said Tabi Prochazka, coordinator of Tobacco Free in the Panhandle. “Research shows that when communities consistently conduct compliance checks and keep failure rates below 10 percent, children in those communities are less likely to use tobacco products.”

Training for alcohol and tobacco retailers is available quarterly at locations throughout the Panhandle. This training, sponsored by Panhandle Prevention Coalition and Nebraska State Patrol, provides individuals entrusted with the responsibility of serving alcohol or selling tobacco with strategies to avoid illegally selling to underage youth or intoxicated patrons.