RETAILERS EXCHANGE THOUGHTS ON YOUNG TOBACCO BUYERS

Geneva Felty stands firm on refusing to sell cigarettes to anyone under the age of 18.

"I don't hesitate to ask for age identification, even If I think a person may be over 18," said Felty, who works at Country Mart in Jackson.

Laws in every state and the District of Columbia prohibit retailers from selling cigarettes and other tobacco products to anyone under 18. Retailers are required by the Food and Drug Administration to check the proof of age by photo ID of any person buying cigarettes or smokeless tobacco who is under 27.

"There have been a few times when a customer became abusive when I ask for identification," said Felty. "I remain calm and explain that it's the law and that I could lose my job."

"But people have thrown a pack of cigarettes at me," she said. "Others have cursed me, saying they would go somewhere else to buy their cigarettes."

These and other comments were heard during a "We Card" training program Tuesday at Drury Lodge. About 65 Missouri retailers, wholesalers and grocers attended the two-hour session, one of four to be presented in the state this week.

The program, sponsored by the Missouri Coalition for Responsible Tobacco Retailing, will be held at St. Louis Wednesday morning, at Columbia Thursday morning and at Jefferson City Thursday afternoon.

"If a customer gets real belligerent or threatens violence, give in to the sale," said Larry Miller, instructor at the seminar. "It's not worth a violent situation."

But document the incident, said Miller, whose family has been in retailing a number of year in Florida.

"Write out a description of the person and what happened," he said. "If a person sees he can bully you into selling him cigarettes without showing an ID, he probably will do it again."

This time around it may be a good idea to report the incident to the police, he said.

Norman Beck and Brad Smith of D Mart service station and convenience stores at Fruitland and Cape Girardeau said people have asked why they ask for IDs, and when they explain why the customers are satisfied with it.

Once people are acquainted with the rule, they usually will accept it, said Miller.

"That's why we're conducting these programs, to acquaint those involved in retailing how to cope with various situations," he said.

The statewide programs are being held in conjunction with the national education campaign sponsored by the coalition.

"To date we have sent out aboaut 10,000 We Card training kits in Missouri," said Daniel Shaul, marketing and sales representative with the Mid-America Grocer Association.

The half-day sessions feature interactive skill-building and role-playing that teaches retailers methods to prevent tobacco sales to minors. The session also helps clerks spot fake identifications, how to handle difficult situations when sales are refused and how to handle attempts by adults to purchase cigarettes for youths.

Teens make up the largest group of new smokers. An estimated 1.23 million people under 18 became daily smokers in 1996. The increases have occurred despite federal legislation that prohibits the sale of cigarettes to people under 18.

The coalition sponsoring the seminars is made up of the Missouri Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association, Missouri Grocers Association, Missouri Retailers Association, Mid-America Grocers, Ozark Empire Grocers and Retail Grocers Association of Greater Kansas City.

Retailers face fines if convicted of violating the tobacco laws: $200 for the first offense, $400 for the second and $600 for the third.