PARTICIPATE IN YOUTH PURCHASE SURVEYS OR YOUTH DECOY OPERATIONS

Background

“Youth purchase surveys” are commonly used to determine the rate of illegal tobacco sales to minors in a particular community. Community health agencies recruit and train under-age youth to approach tobacco retailers and attempt to buy tobacco. Such surveys do not involve law enforcement and results are used for informational purposes only.

“Youth decoy operations” are used by law enforcement agencies to enforce the law prohibiting the sale of tobacco to minors. As with youth purchase surveys, under-age youth are recruited and trained by law enforcement agencies to approach tobacco retailers and attempt to buy tobacco. However, unlike the youth purchase survey, if the clerk sells tobacco to a minor in a youth decoy operation, he or she can be cited for violating the law.

What’s Involved

Youth aged 15 to 17 years of age are needed for both youth purchase surveys and youth decoy operations while adult drivers over 21 years of age are needed for youth purchase surveys. Both youth and adult participants must complete a screening process and participate in a training provided by the recruiting agency. Specific agencies may have additional requirements.

What You Get

Participating in youth purchase surveys or youth decoy operations gives both youth and adults the satisfaction of knowing they are helping to stop the illegal sale of tobacco to children in their community. In addition, youth participants:

• Earn Community Service credits at school
• Get gift certificates and other rewards for participating
• Can list the experience on college or job applications

Take Action!

• Youth: complete and submit our Youth Application Form to participate in youth purchase surveys or youth decoy operations
• Adults: complete and submit our Adult Application Form to participate in youth purchase surveys