Indiana program curbing teen tobacco use

A new report finds the number of teens who were able to illegally buy tobacco in Indiana last year dropped to an all-time low.

Law enforcement officers statewide have been trying to catch retailers in the act of illegally selling tobacco to minors.

They'll monitor teens as they try to buy it to see if clerks will knowingly sell to a minor or fail to ask for an ID.

"In my opinion that's one of the worst things," said Charles Butler of the Indiana State Excise Police. "If he doesn't make an effort to do his job to make sure the kid is old enough."

The Tobacco Retailer Inspection Program (TRIP) started in 2000. At that time, 40% of teens were able to buy tobacco from retailers. In 2009, that number dropped to an all-time low of 5.6%.

"It shows that the TRIP program does work," Butler told 14 News on Friday. "These businesses and these cashiers know that they are not alone in this."

Butler says the ultimate goal is to keep teens from ever starting to chew tobacco or lighting up a cigarette.

"A lot of people believe that tobacco really isn't all that bad, but when you're basically developing an addiction people may become bored with that addiction and try to move on to bigger and stronger things."

According to Butler, if the habit doesn't start before the age of 18, it's unlikely it ever will.