| Tobacco Sales to Underage Customers |
| Wednesday, 01 July 2009 10:24 |
| The below article appeared in this morning's Charleston Gazette. Illegal tobacco sales to underage customers have increased in West Virginia, a situation tobacco foes say could eventually cost the state millions in federal grant money. The latest Synar Report submitted to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services shows that about 17.9 percent of 458 retailers subject to random inspections sold tobacco products to minors. That's up from about 14.2 percent the previous year. If the percentage of retailers selling tobacco to minors goes over 20 percent, West Virginia could lost about $3.4 million in substance abuse grants. Please take measures to tighten controls on your retail locations in an effort to lower the number of sales to minors. If we should lose federal funding because of increased sales to minors, we are sure that the Legislature will increase fines and fees on the retail tobacco industry in order to make up for it. The 2009 Synar Report is due out in the fall and we still have the opportunity to make needed changes and get these numbers back in line. |
