STUDENT GROUP TRIES TO QUELL YOUTH SMOKING

MILPITAS -- Milpitas merchants illegally sold cigarettes to youths 7
percent of the time, compared with 13 percent of the time statewide,
according to a survey by KICK, or Keep Illegal Cigarettes from Kids.

The group, formed last fall by Milpitas High students, conducted a
survey of the 43 stores in Milpitas that sell cigarettes. ``The bad
news is that youths can still buy cigarettes if they know where to
go,'' Dina El Dessouky said Wednesday at a news conference called to
publicize the 16-member group's efforts.

KICK members are ``adopting'' stores, asking the owner or manager to
be responsible and reinforcing the message by speaking with clerks.
They remind owners and managers that the Milpitas Police Department
enforces the tobacco access law. Fines for non-compliance range from
$250 to $1,000.

Police Chief Charles Lawson said smoking has increased from 9 percent
to 11 percent of California teens since 1990. His officers' requests
of merchants to ask customers for photo IDs and other efforts have
helped, he said. However ``a community response is required'' to cut
teen smoking, Lawson said.