6 Southington Retailers Fail Tobacco Sales Compliance Check: Police

SOUTHINGTON, CT — Six of 12 Southington retail establishments that were checked for tobacco and vape sales to minors failed the inspection last week, according to Southington police.

The 12 establishments were visited on Nov. 13, with police, Southington STEPS Coalition and state authorities using a person under the age of 21 to make purchases at the stores. The underage person successfully made tobacco/vape purchases at six of the 12.

Southington police said the following six local establishments sold tobacco/vape products to the underage person:

• Food Mart (Sunoco) - 398 Main Street
• Cigar Plus Tobacco Shop – 909 Meriden Waterbury Turnpike
• K & M Smoke Shop – 1672 Meriden Waterbury Turnpike
• Smoke Village – 861 Queen Street
• Smoke Valley N Convenience – 1173 Queen Street
• Cigar and Vape Hookah – 400 North Main Street

"The employees working at these stores that sold the tobacco products to the underage individual were issued infractions for illegal sale of Vape Products to someone under 21 years of age C.G.S. 53a-344b(b)," wrote Southington Police Capt. James Armack in a statement.

Armack added, "The Southington Police Department will continue to work with partner agencies in the future in preventing the sale of these products to those that are prohibited from purchasing them."