The Marion County Sheriff’s Office has joined the effort to keep tobacco and tobacco alternative products out of the hands of youths.

The Sheriff’s Office has officially joined the I-PLEDGE partnership with the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division; the department will educate local retailers and help enforce the state’s tobacco, alternative tobacco and vaping laws.

I-PLEDGE emphasizes retailer training, and clerks who successfully pass an online training course will be I-PLEDGE certified. They will learn how to refuse to sell tobacco or vaping products to underage would-be customers; it will also allow retailers to use an affirmative defense against a civil penalty, if the clerk does make an illegal sale.

The Sheriff’s Office will also be conducting compliance checks on local establishments; underage customers under the supervision of deputies will attempt to make illegal purchases, and businesses which sell to them will be cited.

The Knoxville Police Department announced in November it would also be joining in with I-PLEDGE.