Wolves Team with Jewel-Osco and Illinois Liquor Control Commission
to Launch Public Service Campaign Against Youth Smoking
MELROSE PARK, Ill., March 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Attempting to freeze out
illegal underage smoking, the Chicago Wolves, Jewel-Osco and the Illinois
Liquor Control Commission will unveil a public service campaign entitled "Kids
That Score Their Goals Don't Smoke" on March 5th.
Through this campaign, 35,000 posters featuring Wolves forward Tim Breslin
and incorporating the "don't smoke" tagline will be distributed to Chicagoland
youth.
"This poster is another component of the commission's 'Kids Can't Buy 'Em
Here' campaign which focuses on reducing youth access to tobacco," said
executive director Sam Panayotovich. "We also commend Jewel-Osco and the
Chicago Wolves for their support in increasing community awareness to tobacco
minimum age laws."
Currently, 35% of high school students and 24% of adults in Illinois smoke
cigarettes. Each year, 19,000 Illinois residents die prematurely from
smoking-related illnesses and it is estimated that $1.6 billion is spent on
health care related to smoking. "We hope this promotion helps raise awareness
in young people so these numbers can be reduced," added Panayotovich.
Of the 35,000 posters, 5,000 will be given to Chicago Public School
students. The posters will also be available free of charge at Chicagoland
Jewel and Osco stores. Another 5,000 posters will be given out at the Chicago
Wolves game on March 5, 1999.
"Jewel-Osco is pleased to partner with the Illinois Liquor Control
Commission and the Chicago Wolves on this important initiative," said Ertharin
Cousin Moore, Jewel-Osco Vice President, Government and Community Affairs.
"We hope many young people pick up a poster and follow Tim Breslin's message.
Supporting the effort to reduce underage smoking is another way we hope to
give back to the community."
All Jewel-Osco stores have state-of-the-art age verification software to
prevent the sale of tobacco to minors. In addition, all Jewel-Osco clerks
receive special training to ensure that they responsibly sell tobacco and
other age-restricted products. State law prohibits the sale of tobacco to
persons under age 18, and requires retailers to check a photo identification
showing a date of birth.
The Chicago Wolves have been extremely dedicated to the community since
the team's inception in 1994. The organization fully supports the
commission's "Kids Can't Buy 'Em Here" program. Wolves forward Tim Breslin
has always been a leader both on the ice and in the community.
"With so many of our fans being under the age of 18, it is important for
them to know that they need to be responsible for their actions, and this
includes the responsibility that comes with smoking. I am proud to be a
member of the Wolves, and therefore in a position to help heighten the
awareness of the dangers that coincide with underage smoking," said Breslin.
Jewel-Osco operates 190 stores in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Wisconsin.
Of those, 164 are in combination with Osco Drug. Jewel also operates
80 stand-alone Osco Drug stores in Chicagoland and the Milwaukee area. The
company is a subsidiary of American Stores Company, Salt Lake City, Utah, one
of the nation's largest food and drug retailers operating 1,580 stores in
26 states.
Jewel-Osco contributes over $1 million annually to support charitable and
community organizations focusing in three main areas: food and nutrition,
health, and education. For 100-years, Jewel-Osco has demonstrated its
commitment to the communities it serves through charitable contributions and
community outreach programs such as neighborhood festivals and health fairs.
The Illinois Liquor Control Commission (ILCC) is the state regulatory
agency which ensures that the licensees comply with the provisions of the
Liquor Control Act. In addition, the commission provides industry education
programs, which focus on enforcement practices; the meaning of Illinois liquor
control laws; the reduction of illegal sales of alcoholic beverages to minors
and responsibility in serving and selling practices. The ILCC is also
designated as the state's lead agency in developing a strategy for reducing
the availability and delivery of tobacco products to minors. For additional
information, call 312-814-2206, write to the Illinois Liquor Control
Commission at 100 W. Randolph St., Suite 5-300, Chicago, IL 60601, or visit
the Commission's web site at http://www.state.il.us/lcc.
SOURCE Jewel-Osco
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Related links:
http://www.state.il.us/lcc
Company News On-Call:
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/048750.html or fax,
800-758-5804, ext. 048750
CONTACT:
Karen Ramos, Director, Public Relations of
Jewel-Osco, 708-531-6511; or Karen L. Faltin, Industry Education
Manager of ILCC, 312-814-4802
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