The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office recently announced that they partnered with the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division for one of their programs.

The I-Pledge program helps educate local retailers and to enforce tobacco, alternative nicotine and vapor product laws in Iowa. The Iowa ABD mentions that content of I-Pledge focuses on key identifiers on the latest format of Iowa driver’s licenses and includes the previous version of licenses and identification, so retailers can learn how to better spot fake or altered IDs. This program also looks to prevent underage sales, and teach when not to make a sale.

Deputies will also be conducting compliance checks on local establishments as part of the I-Pledge program. Underage customers, under the supervision of law enforcement officials, will enter establishments and attempt to buy tobacco, alternative nicotine and vapor products. Clerks who make the illegal sale will be cited on the spot. Criminal penalties for selling tobacco, alternative nicotine and vapor products to a minor include a $135 fine for a first offense, a $325 fine for a second offense and a $645 fine for third and subsequent offenses.