Tobacco News

Following a CTV News hidden camera investigation, the owner of a local business is defending his tobacco sale policy – and says it works.

“We I.D. every customer who looks under 18,” Store owner Inder Minhas said. His is the type of policy Action on Smoking and Health is pushing to become legislation. The tobacco control organization has been collecting data through compliance tests carried out in five major cities in Alberta – and found two-thirds of retailers were willing to sell tobacco products to a minor, even after checking for I.D.
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Wide variation in sales rates was seen across cities within the county. Lompoc had the highest rate of illegal tobacco sales to minors at 31%. Santa Barbara, Goleta, Carpinteria, Guadalupe, and unincorporated parts of the county also exceeded the state rate of sales to minors. Solvang and Buellton had no sales of tobacco to minors, and Santa Maria sales rates were comparable to the state average.
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East Noble students were charged with theft and cited for tobacco possession by a minor in separate incidents reported Friday.

A 14-year-old girl from Kendallville was charged Tuesday with theft at East Noble Middle School following an investigation on Sept. 6, reported East Noble resource officer Sgt. John Dixon on Friday. The case was forwarded to Noble County juvenile probation.
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If Friday evening’s events are any indication, Enid retailers are getting the message about not selling tobacco to minors.

Kara Savage, a regional prevention coordinator for PreventionWorkz, and two youths visited 16 Enid stores Friday evening and were unable to purchase tobacco at any of them.

“I think all the times we’ve done this, it’s finally getting through to them,” Savage said.
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Three Vashon Island retailers have been cited for illegally selling tobacco to minors, a major reversal from an island-wide clean record between 2005 and 2009, disappointed public-health officials say.

King County’s overall retailer compliance rate has also dropped — from 96 percent in 2009 to less than 89 percent in the 999 inspections done so far this year.
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Illinois joined 38 other states on Tuesday to announce an agreement with Circle K Stores and Mac’s Convenience Stores to prevent the sale of tobacco to children and teens.

The agreement will impose compliance checks and increase training for the companies’ 4,000 convenience stores nationwide, including more than 250 locations in Illinois, all of which sell tobacco products, a release from the attorney general’s office said. Ream more »

A ban on the sale of electronic cigarettes to minors goes into effect Thursday. eCigarette vendors will be fined if they’re caught selling to those 17 and under and minors will be fined if they’re caught smoking one.
The ban will be effective in the City of Spokane, Spokane Valley and unincorporated Spokane County. It came from the efforts of the Spokane Regional Heath District and local jurisdictions to protect youth from the harmful effects of nicotine. Ream more »

MANSFIELD — Eight businesses sold tobacco products or alcoholic beverages to underage customers during a compliance check Monday night.The METRICH Enforcement Unit, Mansfield police, Richland County sheriff’s deputies and Community Action for Capable Youth teamed up for the operation on the eve of graduation season. High school students and adults younger than 21 went to 44 businesses in Mansfield and Richland County. Each employee who illegally sold alcohol or tobacco was cited and will have to appear in municipal court. Read more