Local store fails recent tobacco compliance check

Tobacco compliance checks were conducted in Wakefield on Wednesday, May 7th 2014. A 17 year-old youth, supervised by the Tobacco Program Coordinator, visited all 26 of the tobacco vendors in Wakefield.  Of 26 stores checked, only one sold a tobacco or nicotine product to a minor. At all other stores the clerk asked for an ID and refused to sell a tobacco or nicotine products to the minor.

Many of the tobacco and other nicotine products such as e-cigarettes and e-hookah are packaged and priced to appeal to children. Products such as little cigars and e-cigarettes come in many appealing flavors such as cherry, strawberry, watermelon, chocolate, cotton candy and gummy bear.  The products are also scented and are packaged in colorful and flashy wrappers.  Some are priced at 69, 79 or even 49 cents—prices that a child could afford with just spare change.

Increased prices and enhanced health regulations help limit youth access to tobacco and nicotine products.  90% of adult smokers started smoking in their teens.  Putting off the start of smoking (or vaping in the case of e-products) has the potential to reduce the number of people who become life-long users of these addictive products.  We appreciate that our local retailers not only comply with federal, state and local regulations, but also understand the importance of helping to reduce youth access to these products.