 "This effort is a two-pronged approach, featuring both education and
enforcement," says ILCC Executive Director Gloria L. Materre.
"Prevention is always our first priority. Communities who
participate in the grant program will initially distribute
educational materials to all their tobacco retailers, then conduct
compliance checks to ensure they are following the law."Retailers
can also order their own materials by visiting
www.state.il.us/lcc/tobacco/orderkit.htm.
While Illinois continues to exceed the federally required 80
percent compliance rate for tobacco enforcement, the state Liquor
Control Commission has seen a steady decline in the compliance rate
over the past several years. Because of this, a concerted effort is
being made this year to implement the "Kids Can't Buy 'Em Here"
tobacco program in all areas of the state.
"Our goal is to reach those communities that have not
participated in the past," Materre explains. "We want all tobacco
retailers to follow the law."
To obtain a grant
application (PDF) for the "Kids Can't Buy 'Em Here" tobacco
enforcement program, visit
www.state.il.us/LCC/tobacco. The deadline
for submission is March 31.
First-ever combined educational seminars on liquor and tobacco
laws
In order to educate retailers on how to enforce minimum-age laws
for both tobacco and liquor sales, the Illinois Liquor Control
Commission is hosting free regional educational seminars
throughout the state over the next two weeks. For location and
registration information, visit
www.dontbesorry.org.
In addition to learning more about the aforementioned tobacco
program, attendees will learn how their sales staff and patrons can
comply with the law by using the ILCC's Beverage Alcohol
Sellers/Servers Education & Training program, known as BASSET; the
"Don't Be Sorry" underage drinking awareness effort, and the new
"Parental Responsibility" and "Your Actions Matter!" campaigns. Free
educational materials from all programs will be distributed at each
of the regional meeting locations.
To register for one of the free regional meetings and to view the
dates, times and locations of all meetings, visit
www.dontbesorry.org.
Statewide teen video contest
As part of the "Your Actions Matter!" campaign, the Illinois Liquor
Control Commission is conducting a statewide teen video contest open
to all youth in Illinois. The 30-second public service announcement
submissions will be judged by the quality of work and their
effectiveness in encouraging positive underage drinking prevention
behavior by parents, particularly those with young teens.
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To select the winning video, the Illinois Liquor Control
Commission convened a judging panel for the contest. Below are
this year's panelists, representing all key stakeholder groups,
including the prevention field, the local level and the liquor
industry:
-
Nolan Burke, Burke
Beverage Inc.
-
Heidi Dahnke, Human
Resources Center, Edgar/Clark counties
-
Kay Daniel, Menard
County School & Community Task Force
-
Peter Dell'Aquila,
Chestnut Health Systems
-
Marne Fauser,
Illinois Alcoholism & Drug Dependence Association
-
Paula Goodwin,
Grundy/Kendall Regional Office of Education
-
Sam Grzeca, The
LeaderShop
-
Nikki Lay, Breaking
Free Inc.
-
Margaret Polovchak,
OMNI Youth Services
-
Adam Price, Youth
Outreach Services
-
Mayor Sam Pulia,
village of Westchester
-
Judy Randall,
health/prevention professional
-
Dr. Julie Tonsing-Meyer,
McKendree University
-
Bill Tynan, city of
St. Charles
-
Sheriff Kelly Wilhelmi, Whiteside
County
Winner(s) will be announced in April during the statewide kickoff
for the "Your Actions Matter!" campaign. Later this year, the winning
video will air on TV stations throughout the state.
For contest rules, the
application form (PDF) and more information on judging criteria,
visit
www.youractionsmatter.org. The entry deadline for video
submissions is April 8 at 5 p.m. sharp.
[Text from
Illinois Liquor Control
Commission file received from the
Illinois Office of Communication and Information]
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