DES MOINES, Iowa – Nearly all Iowa tobacco retailers keep the substance from the hands of minors, according to new report from the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division, the Des Moines Register reports. The agency found that 93% of those retailers did not sell cigarettes or other tobacco products to underage buyers in the fiscal year ending June 30.

That compliance rate tied the 2010 rate, which was the highest rate since the state started keeping records of tobacco compliance in 1994. Twenty-seven counties had 100% compliance. Iowa has 3,400 tobacco outlets.

“The current rate shows we continue to make steady progress in the fight to keep tobacco products out of the hands of Iowa’s youth,” said Stephen Larson, who administers the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division. The state’s tobacco usage rates for youth have been on the decline since 1999 (38%) to 2012 (17%).

Larson pointed to the Iowa Pledge program that connects communities, law enforcement and retailers together to work on lowering underage access to tobacco. “I believe Iowa’s retailers are committed to being part of the solution, not the problem,” he said.

A report released in July found that fewer teens are smoking these days.