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Village receives grant from Illinois Liquor Control Commission  Share
The Village of Manhattan has again been chosen by the Illinois Liquor Control Commission to receive a grant in the amount of $1,100 to establish a comprehensive educational and enforcement program addressing minimum-age tobacco laws. ''Based on the success of last year's operations, we are pleased to again receive support from the Illinois Liquor Control Commission in the form of this grant to continue with education about the dangers of youth use of tobacco products,'' said Manhattan's Police Chief William Fitzgerald. ''We are looking forward to another year of 100% compliance in our decoy operations,'' said he added. The commission, the state's lead agency in developing strategies to reduce the illegal sale of tobacco products to minors, annually awards $1 million in grants to communities that are willing to implement the ILCC Tobacco Enforcement program. Participating communities are required to provide education to their retailers prior to implementing the enforcement component. All tobacco retailers will receive the Commission's Tobacco Retailer Kit which includes a review of state minimum-age tobacco laws, required signage and training guides for their personnel.
In addition, each tobacco retailer will receive three compliance checks. Tobacco retailers within the entire program average over 90 percent compliance, and Illinois is ranked 7th nationwide in Synar tobacco retailer compliance rates. The Tobacco Retailer Kits have been distributed by the Manhattan Police Department. First round compliance checks of establishments that sell tobacco products of any kind, by any means, will follow within upcoming weeks. The results of these checks will be sent to the Illinois Liquor Control Commission. Anyone having questions about this program or information about minors purchasing tobacco products within the village, should contact Officer Michael Holford of the Manhattan Police Department at 815-478-4408. Mary Bernhard is a reporter for Russell Publications.
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