Norwich — The Norwich Police Department announced that it will conduct compliance checks to determine who is illegally selling alcohol or electronic nicotine delivery systems to underage customers.

The police department again will partner with the Norwich Youth and Family Services on the initiative, the news release states.

The police department said it will conduct the compliance checks over the next several months at licensed liquor establishments and businesses that sell e-cigarettes in the city. The police referenced national studies that have shown compliance checks both monitor establishments and encourage them to prevent youth from accessing harmful substances. 

"Every year, over 5,000 young people die as a result of underage drinking and research has shown that the earlier youth begin drinking the more vulnerable they will be to addiction and associated issues," the news release states.

The police cited statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that vaping, e-cigarette and Juul use in middle schools exceeds 15 percent and use in high school exceeds 30 percent.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not regulate marketing for these products, police said.