Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 26, 1995                   TAG: 9504260087
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: BREEA WILLINGHAM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

DOUBLE I.D. PROGRAM LAUNCHED

The Roanoke Valley chapter of the American Red Cross on Tuesday introduced the ``It Takes Two'' program, which asks merchants who sell alcohol or tobacco products to demand two forms of identification.

Now, most stores ask for only one I.D. from anyone believed to be under 21 who is buying alcohol and under 18 who is buying tobacco products. The second I.D. could be a credit card, college or work I.D. or a Social Security card.

The program is sponsored by the Coalition for a Smoke Free Virginia and the American Red Cross. Its goal is to make it harder for teens to illegally purchase alcohol and tobacco products. According to the Red Cross, statistics show that it is more difficult and expensive for teen-agers to obtain two fake I.D. cards.

``We realize ... the ability to obtain someone else's I.D. or fake I.D. is very easy, but if we can get young people to recognize the dangers, then we've accomplished quite a major goal,'' said Salem Commonwealth's Attorney Fred King.

Betty Whittaker, assistant director for health, safety and youth for the Roanoke Red Cross, said preventing illegal purchases will help reduce the number of teen-agers who drive under the influence of alcohol and will help merchants avoid penalties for selling alcohol or tobacco to teens illegally.

Food Lion Inc. and the Kroger Co. have agreed to join in the program.

``This is an outstanding tool to battle the important issues of teen-age alcohol and tobacco use,'' said Brian Peace, public affairs manager for Food Lion. ``If we can make it difficult for them to buy these products, then we've done our part.''

Whittaker said a similar program was started in 1992 that addressed only underage alcohol purchases, but ``as the program progressed, we realized we had to expand.'' In the initial program, Virginia merchants reported that about half of potential underage purchasers automatically left the store after seeing the program stickers and posters.

Whittaker said employees of companies that take part in the program will be trained on how to recognize fake I.D.s and learn the legal aspects for checking identification cards to make sure they are valid.