Tekoa students survey exhibits

Following the surveys, the entire sixth grade class participated in two follow-up activities. They learned about alcohol and tobacco industry advertising tactics that purposefully target youth. They also created their own personal slogan, much like businesses do, that promoted themselves as being strong. Slogans included “Be happy and change the world,” “Never stop Dreaming,” “Love, Trust and be Yourself,” “Keep your white boots Clean” and many others.

Healthy Tekoa Coalition and students in Tekoa's sixth grade class have found local stores in the area are committed to limiting the number of advertisements for alcohol and tobacco both in and out of their stores. This is based on information the group collected while conducting an assessment of area stores.

Over the past several weeks, the youth involved with Tekoa elementary sixth grade class have been surveying stores as part of the statewide effort to prevent underage alcohol use.

In Tekoa, there are only four retailers. Students and parents also surveyed stores in Colfax, Oakesdale, Fairfield and Dusty. All are retailers that sell alcohol. Of the 10 that were surveyed, results were as follows:

• All 10 stores surveyed had no exterior cigarette advertising.

• Only five stores included alcohol advertising on exterior windows, facing out.

• Eight of 10 stores included family-friendly advertising on the outside of the store.

• None of the stores placed toys next to ads for alcohol.

All stores were asked to post a sticker in a window that says “providing alcohol to minors could cost you $5,000 and a year in jail.” Two stores did not place stickers in a window.