Stores are saturated with tobacco advertising, promotions and tobacco products. These products are often placed next to candy, in front of the counter and below 3 feet. Not only are cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products placed so they are easily seen, but they are also easily accessible to youth. Published research studies have found that kids are twice as sensitive to tobacco advertising than adults and are more likely to be influenced to smoke by cigarette marketing than by peer pressure, and that one-third of underage experimentation with smoking is attributable to tobacco company advertising. (Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids)

Keeping Tobacco Out of the Reach of Youth is a project in which trained adult and youth volunteers inspect retail outlets throughout their community to officially document the presence of retail tobacco advertising, promotion, and product placement. The information is then used by these groups to make policy changes regarding tobacco use in their community.

For more information about implementing Operation Storefront in your community contact PRIDE-Omaha, Inc. at (402) 397-3309 or info@pride.org.