|
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday,
July 18, 2008
| Contact: |
Jamilia
Sherls, Tobacco Prevention & Control Coordinator, 360-786-5581
ext. 16966# |
|
Sherri
McDonald, Public Health Director, 360-786-5201 |
Thurston
County
Public Health Cracks Down on Tobacco Retailers
OLYMPIA
-- Thurston County Public Health
& Social Services recently conducted youth compliance checks at 80 tobacco
retailers around
Thurston
County
. Out of the 80 retailers, an alarming 15 (19%) were found to be in violation
of the Youth Access Law.
In 1993, the Washington
State Legislature passed the Youth Access Law to reduce the illegal sale of
tobacco to
Washington
youth. The Youth Access Law requires that tobacco
products not be sold to anyone under the age of 18.
Thurston
County
and other counties around the state conduct compliance checks on tobacco
retailers to enforce this law and decrease youth access to tobacco, thus
decreasing the potential for youth starting down the road to tobacco
addiction.
Congratulations
to the following tobacco retailers in
Thurston
County
who were found compliant with the Youth Access Law:
7-Eleven
Store #2303-25983C
Albertson’s #415
Apex III Grocery & Deli
Arbor Center Chevron
Arco AM/PM Mini Market
Bailey’s IGA
Black Lake Grocery
Capital City Shell
Capital Smoke
Capitol Lake Grocery
Capitol Market & Asian Deli
Capitol Mart
Cedar Inn
Chambers Prairie
Chevron USA #1126
Cigarettes #1
Cigarettes*#2
Circle K/76 #2705082
Circle K/76 #2705497
Clearwood Market & Deli |
Columbia
Petroleum & Convenience
Cooper Point Village Mart
Cooper Pt. Chevron
Dave’s Market Place
Day & Night Grocery 2
Fourth Ave Food Mart
Grand Mound AM/PM Mini Market
Lacey Food Mart
Lacey Fuel
Lacey Smoke Shop
Lam NP Grocery
Liberty Market
Log Cabin Bar & Grill
Lucky Seven Food Store
McMenamins Spar Café & Bar
Nisqually Automotive & Towing
Nisqually Bar and Grill
Nisqually Rez Mart
Nisqually Valley Grocery
Olympia Chevron |
Picasso Brothers, Inc.
Pilot Travel Center #151
Pit Stop Grocery
QFC #126Rite Aid #5281
Safeway Fuel Station #1952
Safeway Store #1619
Safeway Store #1977
Sami’s Shell
Scott Lake Grocery
Summit Lake Grocery
Tabacco Express
Tenino Corner Grocery
The 4th Ave Alehouse & Eatery
Thompson Place Market
Top Food & Drug #29
Tumwater Shell
Union Mills Grocery
Villa Grove
Walgreens #05571
Walmart Super Center #3705 |
The
following tobacco retailers in
Thurston
County
were found to be in violation of the Youth Access Law:
Arco AM/PM
Black Lake Shell
Don’s EZ Mart
Frankie’s Sports Bar Grill & Lounge
Grabajava Espresso |
King Solomon’s Reef
Mega Foods
O’Blarney’s Pub
Puget Pantry
Rainier Market |
Restover Food Mart
Road Runner Gas & Grocery
Safeway Store # 1952
Safeway Store #1503
Walmart Super Center #3531 |
Both tobacco
retail clerks and shop owners are fined by the Washington State Liquor Control
Board when they are non-compliant with the Youth Access Law. In addition, the
store’s tobacco license may be suspended if they continue to violate the
law. Being informed of the law and the correct ways to comply are the keys for
retailers in order to avoid penalties. “All too often I had clerks tell me
that they did not know the correct way to check ID. Or I encountered clerks
who simply did not ask to see ID when my youth volunteer asked for a pack of
cigarettes,” says Jamilia Sherls, Tobacco Prevention and Control Coordinator
at Thurston County Public Health & Social Services.
“Leadership
in tobacco retail establishments needs to make sure their staff always asks
for ID for anyone who looks under the age of 35 and make sure that their staff
is trained on how to properly check ID.” says Sherls. According to Dr. Diana
Yu, Thurston County Health Officer, “In our efforts to decrease youth
tobacco use, limiting easy access to tobacco products is one of the
strategies. Using tobacco products
adds negative impacts to a person’s health.
The bottom line is we want a healthier future for our youth.”
If you work for a tobacco retailer and would like
more information on the Youth Access Law or how to correctly check ID, please
contact Jamilia Sherls at 360-786-5581, ext. 1-6966# or the Washington State
Liquor Control Board.
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