January 28, 2003

RELEASE IMMEDIATELY

CONTACT:
Ofc. Charles Whitney
Richmond Police Department
(510) 812-8361

TEENS WALK THE BEAT TO EDUCATE MERCHANTS, PEERS ABOUT
ILLEGAL TOBACCO SALES

Tobacco Merchant Education Day is part of school project

Richmond.   More than a dozen West County high school students will pass out information kits to merchants along 23^rd Street and San Pablo Avenue to educate them about state and local laws governing tobacco sales to minors.  The Merchant Education Day will take place on Saturday, February 1, 2003, beginning at 10 a.m. at the Richmond City Hall Lobby, 2600 Barrett Avenue. 

The students are enrolled in the Middle College High School program, which is a partnership between the West County Unified School District and Contra Costa Community College.  The Merchant Education Day is a student project through the Contra Costa County Health Services “Empowerment Through Action” program.

Students designed the project after observing businesses in the Central District where they believed merchants might be violating tobacco laws.  The students compiled their findings into a report, which they presented to the Richmond Police Department command staff.  Police officials evaluated the report and agreed to help the students with their merchant education project.  The information kits contain copies of state laws and City codes governing tobacco sales to minors, employee education posters, decals, information on how to report unlawful sales and how to advise youth under age 18 about laws prohibiting tobacco purchases.

The students will be accompanied by Richmond Police Officers, counselors from Contra Costa County Health Services, and members of the Richmond Police Explorers program.

For more information, please contact Officer Charles Whitney at (510) 812-8361.