Ohio, Marshall County Host Merchant Roundtable

Moundsville, W. Va. - The Ohio County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition and the Marshall County Anti-Drug Coalition have joined together to host a "Merchant Roundtable" for tobacco and alcohol merchants on Tuesday, June 14, 2011 at Grand Vue Park's Banquet Hall in Moundsville, W. Va. Participants are able to choose from one of two sessions: the morning session will run from 9:00-10:00am and the afternoon session will run from 2:00-3:00pm. Community members are also encouraged to attend.

Marshall County Sheriff John Gruzinskas will speak on the laws against selling to minors, and a Trooper from the West Virginia State Police, Wheeling Detachment will speak about the SYNAR compliance inspections. The SYNAR legislation, passed in 1992, requires states to conduct random, unannounced inspections in order to stop the illegal sale of tobacco to minors.

Forty-five merchants from Ohio County and 38 merchants from Marshall County have been invited to attend the roundtable. Merchants will be given information and marketing materials from the merchant education campaign, “WE Hold UP IDs” developed by United in Prevention. The campaign focuses on aiding businesses to identify underage customers, thus helping to prevent the illegal sale of tobacco and alcohol.

The “WE Hold UP IDs” Campaign presents the message to vendors to always ask for id and “Hold UP IDs” in their hands to check the shape, background color, and date of birth. The campaign includes several components to help aid and educate vendors in recognizing minors’ ids, including: a brochure, flyer, poster, counter mat, cash register sticker, window cling, and employee button.

United in Prevention is a regional collaboration in substance abuse prevention lead by the Marshall County Family Resource Network. United in Prevention serves Marshall, Ohio, Brooke, Hancock, Wetzel, Tyler, Pleasants, Wood, Wirt, Calhoun, Gilmer, Ritchie, Doddridge, Harrison, Marion, and Monongalia counties. For more information on United in Prevention, please visit www.unitedinprevention.com.

For more information on the merchant roundtable, contact Ohio County Coalition Director, Susan Oglinsky at soglinsky@ysswv.com or (304) 641-8655 or Drug Free Communities Coordinator, Jon Lewis at jon.lewis@marshallcountyfrn.com or (304) 845-3300.