Healthy Lincoln County teamed up with teens from the Boothbay Youth Health Advisory Board and Lincoln County Healthcare to complete the first Star Store surveys in Lincoln County.

The Star Store Program is a voluntary program to encourage the responsible retailing of tobacco products. Its goal is to reduce the exposure of tobacco messages, advertising and promotion that youth see in stores. This program is an extension of NO BUTS! (Blocking Underage Tobacco Sales), an initiative of the Maine CDC’s Partnership For a Tobacco-Free Maine. Star Store is the next step-in responsible retailing-reducing the visibility of tobacco marketing to kids.

Studies show that youth are heavily influenced by in-store tobacco advertising. About 90 percent of all smokers start before the age of 18, and over a third of all kids who every try smoking will become regular, daily users. Despite federal limits on how tobacco products are advertised, it’s estimated that 90 percent of the tobacco industry’s annual marketing budget (nearly $10 billion) is now spent on ads and promotions in retail stores. And it’s no coincidence that the four most heavily advertised brands (Marlboro, Newport, Winston and Camel) account for 93 percent of youth smoking.

We applaud the Boothbay teens and retailers who participated: Hometown Convenience in Boothbay Harbor and Trevett Store in Boothbay; as well at the Youth Health advisory team; Jacob Bishop, Tabitha Harrington, Lil Sherburne, Noah Sherburne, McKenzie Hicks, Grant Giles, Draco Peaslee, Emma Rideout and Molly Thibault. Both of the stores surveyed were awarded Gold Status because they have no tobacco advertising and no promotions or signs geared to youth.

If you would like to participate in the Star Store or the NO BUTS! Programs, either as a youth advocate or a responsible retailer, please contact Anni Pat McKenney at Healthy Lincoln County, 207-563-1330, or by emailing programs@healthylincolncounty.org.