The Tobacco Compliance Check Program, funded by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, engages young people in enforcing tobacco sales regulations. Youth from across Massachusetts, hired as Youth Inspectors, conduct “tobacco compliance checks” to make sure tobacco retailers are following the law by not selling tobacco to minors. Compliance checks are an important part of tobacco prevention efforts.

HRiA has implemented the Tobacco Compliance Check Program since 2011, including recruitment of youth participants, oversight, and general administration. Youth Inspectors are supervised by adult Compliance Officers, each of whom is responsible for a territory within Massachusetts. As of December 2015, there are 61 youth from 23 Massachusetts cities and towns actively working in the program.