By: Chad Franzen Posted at: 02/01/2010 03:20 PM
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) - The Wyoming Department of Health says a state program to determine whether retail establishments are illegally selling alcohol or tobacco to youth is seeing growing success.
A compliance check involves the law enforcement practice of sending a minor into a retail establishment to try buying alcohol or tobacco.
Of the nearly 1,000 alcohol compliance checks conducted by Wyoming law enforcement officers last year, 85 percent of liquor stores refused to sell alcohol to underage persons. This is a significant increase from a 79 percent compliance rate in 2008.
Of the more than 730 tobacco compliance checks, 84 percent of establishments refused to sell tobacco to underage youth in 2009.
For 2008, more than 680 tobacco checks were completed for an 83 percent compliance rate.
