The Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division (ABD) took over the Iowa Pledge Program in 2000. This program asks Iowa’s kids to pledge that they will not use tobacco products; retailers to pledge to not sell tobacco products to underage users; and law enforcement to pledge to enforce the state tobacco laws.
The goal for providing a Web-based training program is to support voluntary compliance of Iowa’s tobacco laws by offering education and backing it with enforcement. This training allows employees at retail locations that sell tobacco products to sign up, participate in the interactive class, and take a test to become Iowa Pledge certified. Utilizing the Sakai learning management system (LMS) and Articulate authoring tool, Monarch Media developed the current Web-based training system. In addition to offering Iowa Pledge certification, the platform has built-in query tools that allow administrators and the general public to look up the status of vendor or employee certification at anytime. This tool directly supports Iowa communities by making outcomes transparent to everyone from parents to law enforcement.
Currently one of the only courses of its kind in the country, employees of tobacco retailers in the state of Iowa are required to complete the training and certification every two years to remain Iowa Pledge certified.