Alpine County stores pass tobacco sales test

Clerks at the Markleeville General Store and Lake Alpine Resort knew to ask a youth decoy for identification and to refuse the sale of tobacco.

Alpine County Tobacco Control Program recently conducted its annual local survey to make sure businesses are complying with laws aimed at protecting youth from tobacco. Under the supervision of an adult chaperone, a specially trained youth decoy attempts to purchase a tobacco product at each retail location.

Businesses are required to train their employees to ask for identification from anyone who appears to be under the age of 27, and to refuse the sale to any person under the age of 18.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report