TOBACCO COMPLIANCE CHECK
BOH MINOR TRAINING PROCESS
Purpose: Educate youth on the process and essential components of a1 safe
safe and
and
successful compliance check.
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Before you begin:
Collect all required paperwork from youth (ie. application, copy of birth certificate,
parental consent, etc..)
Schedule date and time for youth to meet with you to conduct the training.
Things you will need at the training:
o A computer/phone/tablet with access to the internet
o A copy of this training document
o Samples of products

* Best Practice* - put together a “training box” that includes scenario scripts and
products
* Best Practice* - schedule experienced youth to conduct compliance checks the day
of the training. The experienced youth can assist with both the Tobacco Show and
Tell and the “in store” experience. Have the new youth shadow the experienced
youth after the training to learn by observation.
Steps to accomplish this:
I. Online Training - Login to the BOH online training with the youth.
1. Enter
Enter BOH
BOH contact
contact
email address and select BOH collaborative from the list.
II. https://forms.gle/o5TCnRFKZKY543wU9
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• Ensure that minor watches the training video with you and takes the test.
The minor should get a score of 80% or better. Be sure to address any
incorrect responses with the minor and answer any questions the minor
may have.
III. Tobacco Show and Tell – show youth samples of tobacco
tobacco products
products that
that they
they may
may
ask for during a compliance check. At minimum this should include JUUL (ecigarettes), e-juice/vape juice, cigarettes, smokeless tobacco and cigars.
A. While showing the purchaser the product, be sure to talk about “lingo” that is
typically used. (i.e. Can I get a pack of Marlboro’s – not a pack of Marlboro
Cigarettes)
B. Discuss what a “loosie” is
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C. Show how to determine if e-cig/vape product contain nicotine
IV. Reinforcement of Knowledge
A. Safety Overview
1) Reinforce safety ground rules
• When doing compliance checks, there are 3 main things we
care most about:
a. Your physical safety
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b. Your anonymity (making sure nobody knows your
name or where you live. We want you to be just
another face in the crowd.)
c. Your comfort level.
2) If at any time during a compliance check you feel unsafe,
uncomfortable or threatened in any way, get out of the situation as
quickly as you can and let a staff member know. This means that you
should abandon the attempted purchase. Abort mission! THIS IS
OK.
B. Discuss Emergency Codes
1) If both youth and adult Compliance Officers have a cell phone, then a
common code for emergencies can be developed, where a youth can
call the Adult Compliance Officer and communicate if necessary.
2) If a youth is in a situation where they need additional support and
cannot leave the store, they can call/text the Adult Compliance
Officer and use the code, “I’m not feeling well today.”
3) If there is a long line or the youth will be inside a store for longer than
normal, they can call/text the Adult Compliance Officer and use the
code, “I’ll be coming home late today.”
C. Discuss/role play how the youth would respond to these situations:
(Scenario cards can be printed from the last page)
1) Youth knows the clerk or other people in the store.
2) Clerk becomes agitated.
3) Clerk follows youth to vehicle.
4) Clerk asks for ID.
5) Clerk asks “how old are you?”
6) Clerk asks “is this a sting/are you with the cops?”
7) Clerk does not allow youth to leave the store
D. Remind youth of the relevant information that will need to be collected
after the check
1) Did the clerk ask for an ID?
2) Did the clerk ask your age?
3) What was the gender of the clerk?
4) What was the approximate age of the clerk?
• Teen? Young Adult? Adult? Older Adult?
5) Type of tobacco asked for?
6) Was the sale made?
• If yes:
o How much did the product cost? Was a receipt given?
o Describe the employee who sold you the tobacco.
V. FINAL POINTS
A. The youth should be encouraged to act like any other paying customer.
B. Ask the youth whether they have any questions before the check.
C. Discuss specifics of the job that are unique to your BOH program including
but not limited to:
- Pay rate, method, frequency
- Methods of contact
- Schedule of work
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Scenarios
Q: Your supervisor instructs you to buy a cigar. You go into the store and the customer
in front of you buys two loosies. What do you do? What product do you buy?
A: Attempt to buy a loosie. If they don’t sell then try to buy a cheap cigar.
Q: You are in the store and there is a line of 5 people. What do you do?
A: You wait in line with the customers and use the opportunity to memorize the
clerk’s description and recognize what products are available for you to
purchase. You should also text your adult supervisor that you are waiting in line
so they do not worry. Continue to be aware of your surroundings.
Q: You enter a package store to purchase a tobacco product and the clerk asks for your
ID. You respond you did not bring your ID. The clerk then asks you if the adult in the
car you got out of is your mother/father. How do you respond?
A: No she/he is not my mother/father. Yeah, I know them.
Q: While outside the store walking back to the car with your newly bought ENDS
product, the clerk exits the store and comes up to you and asks you for ID. What do you
do?
A: Continue to the car and let your supervisor handle the situation.
Q:You are purchasing a tobacco product and the clerk asks: “You smoke these? What
are some appropriate responses?
A: It’s all I ever buy. That’s my brand.
Q: You ask the clerk to buy cigarettes. The clerk asks for your ID and after you inform
them you do not have an ID the clerk says they cannot sell to you. As you leave the
store, the customer behind you tells you to give them the money and they’ll buy them for
you. What do you do?
A: Politely say “no thanks” and leave the store.
Q: After entering the store you notice that the clerk behind the counter is in your English
Lit class. You should….
A: Leave the store and explain to your supervisor that you cannot do this
inspection and why. The supervisor may send in another minor
Q: After being instructed to purchase cigarettes, you enter the Store and don’t see any
tobacco products anywhere. What you ask the clerk?
A: Can I get a pack of Newport’s? You should not ask if they sell cigarettes.
Assume they do and let them tell you otherwise.
Q: After attempting to purchase a tobacco product, the clerk becomes agitate and starts
yelling at you. What do you do?
A: Leave the store immediately and return to your supervisor. They will handle it.
Your safety is number one priority for us, do not worry about aborting the
compliance check.
Q: You are in a store to conduct a compliance check and for some reason, the clerk or
another customer will not let you leave the store. What do you do?
A: Immediately call or text your supervisor who will come into the store and
handle the situation.
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