The request even surprised the 16-year-old clerk.
    Someone about his age was trying to buy cigarettes.
    It happened during spring break, when 18 retailers were approached by teenagers asking to buy tobacco products. All 18 businesses turned them down.

Even the teenage employee knew what to do. The Heights Shell employee said at first he was surprised that another youth was even asking. He asked for ID, and then he saw the card of thanks from the Cascade Locks OSSOM member.

In recent years, OSSOM clubs in Cascade Locks and Hood River have been at the forefront of regular efforts, in conjunction with the Hood River Prevention Coalition, to prevent underage purchase and abuse of tobacco as well as alcohol products.

The youths have also worked with the coalition to go to stores to place bright labels on alcohol products (with approval of retailers) reminding customers that it is a crime to provide alcohol to underage people.

In the recent tobacco effort, every store the youth visited asked for ID from the students, and refused to sell them tobacco.

“We are very excited about the 100 percent compliance rate from our retailers,” said Kimberly Berry, Hood River Tobacco Prevention coordinator.

The point of the program, known as “Rewards and Reminders,” is education and the promotion of healthy lifestyles.

Kudos to the retailers for knowing the law, making sure their employees know the law, and upholding it.

Similar “covert” efforts in other counties have yielded a few violators.

Under the program, if the clerk properly checks ID and refuses the sale of tobacco, the students reward them with a thank-you letter and congratulate them for refusing to sell to a minor. If the clerk attempts to sell to the minor, the young people hand them a reminder letter and ask them to please check ID for everyone who looks younger than 27.

The Reward and Reminder program is conducted once or twice each year by local youth and the Hood River Prevention Coalitions. We have every reason to believe it will find 100 percent again.

More sobering is the fact that compliance was less than 100 percent the last time a similar campaign was done in Hood River County targeting the illegal sale of alcohol to people under 21. Some stores did not card, and received a polite reminder of the law. Next time, any retailer should be prepared to check ID and be ready to decline the sale.

Spring is here, and the reality is that this time of year many youths historically have been inclined to give into less-than-savory springtime pursuits. It calls for vigilance.

While the challenge of dissuading youths from abusing tobacco and all drugs — including alcohol — must start in the home, compliance checks combining the efforts of students, agencies and retailers are an important partnership for the future health of our young people.