The Kay County TSET Healthy Living Program, Kay County OSU Community Wellness, and Ponca City Police Department Completes Compliance Checks

Ponca City – The Kay County TSET Healthy Living Program and Kay County OSU Community Wellness recently partnered with the Ponca City Police Department on visiting stores in Ponca City to check on whether their clerks would sell tobacco, vape, or alcohol products to underage persons.

The legal age to purchase tobacco and alcohol products is 21, according to federal and state law. During recent compliance checks, 8 out of 8 tobacco retail stores visited in Ponca City complied with the law by refusing to sell tobacco products to underage volunteer “customers”. 7 out of 9 alcohol retail stores visited in Ponca City complied with the law by refusing to sell alcohol products to underage volunteer “customers”.

This equates to 100% percent of stores that were visited being in legal compliance for tobacco products and approximately 78% of stores visited being in legal compliance for alcohol products from June 1, 2024, to June 30, 2024.

“That is fantastic,” said Carrie Winslett, lead coordinator of the Kay County TSET Healthy Living Program serving Kay County. “Store owners and employees who check IDs and refuse to sell tobacco and vape products to people under 21 not only obey the law, but they also protect the health and well-being of our young ones.”

“Two local alcohol retailers out of nine sold alcohol to minors,” said Marcie Antonio, Kay County Alcohol Prevention Coordinator with OSU Community Wellness. “These checks are part of ongoing efforts to curb underage drinking and ensure community safety. Public awareness of these violations is crucial, as it reinforces the importance of adhering to laws designed to protect our youth.

Local police have the authority to conduct compliance checks because Ponca City has an ordinance that matches federal and state laws that prohibit tobacco and alcohol sales to persons under 21. More compliance checks will be conducted on occasion in future months.

Carrie Winslett and Marcie Antonio thanked Ponca City police for conducting the compliance checks. Reducing tobacco and alcohol sales to minors is one of the major objectives of the Kay County Healthy Living Coalition, which the Kay County TSET Healthy Living Program and the OSU Community Wellness programs work in partnership with other local programs to lower rates of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and early death in the community caused by the misuse of substances.

To learn more about the Kay County TSET Healthy Living Program and its community-based work and objectives, call 580-765-2476 or email Carrie Winslett at [email protected] or Ali Morris at [email protected]

TSET – the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust – currently funds 28 Healthy Living Program grants that serve 30 counties throughout Oklahoma. The community-based grantees work to prevent and reduce tobacco use and obesity rates through a data-driven approach that includes strategic actions and partnerships with community residents and organizations.

The Kay County Healthy Living Coalition is a community-based coalition of local stakeholders that works together to implement and share community wellness and uses the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Strategic Prevention Framework to prevent the misuse of alcohol, stimulants, and marijuana. To participate and learn more, visit the Kay County Healthy Living Coalition on Facebook or email Marcie Antonio, Kay County Alcohol Prevention Coordinator, OSU Community Wellness at [email protected]

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