The Police Department in Centralia reports that over 90-percent of retailers inside of the city are following tobacco laws and the state minimum-age for purchasing tobacco products.  Only 2 clerks in Centralia were cited during Phase 3 of the Department’s Tobacco Sales enforcement effort.  The only two retailers that sold to a teenager under 18 was an employee at The Caddy Shack on North Poplar Street and an employee at Family Dollar on North Elm Street.  Officers have been able to conduct compliance checks after being awarded a grant by the Illinois Liquor Control Commission and their campaign of “Kids Can’t Buy ‘Em Here.”  These checks are done to see whether a retail store is following state laws and not allowing anybody under 18 to purchase tobacco products.  Retailers have been educated by the City of Centralia to assure that they understand all the rules and regulations in regard to tobacco purchasing.  19 of the 21 licensed retail businesses in Centralia were in compliance of the law, which is a 90.5 percent rate of retailors following the law.  Centralia Officer Lt. Greg Dodson says that keeping tobacco out of the hands of youth is key, since 90-percent of current adult smokers say that they started tobacco use before they were legally able to.