Westport Businesses Compliant In Recent Smoking ID Inspections: PD

WESTPORT, CT — Five Westport businesses were randomly inspected by authorities this week to see if they were complying with the state's laws on selling tobacco and e-cigarette products, and all were compliant, according to Westport police.

The five businesses that were inspected on Wednesday were:

1. Shell/A1 Smoke Shop – 322 Post Road East
2. Cumberland Farms – 690 Post Road East
3. Westport Cigar & Vape – 1248 Post Road East
4. Merritt Country Store – 337 Main Street
5. WP Convenience – 1761 Post Road East

Conducting the inspections were members of the Westport Police Department and the state Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. The inspections were unannounced, in "an effort to determine compliance with state laws concerning the prohibition of the sale of e-cigarettes and/or tobacco products to youth under the age of 21."

Westport Police Lt. Eric Woods told Patch that the mental health and addiction group does not have the authority to issue tickets if violations are found, so the department teams with police to handle enforcement.

"DHMAS employs people under 21 who attempt to make purchases and if successful, the clerk who sold the item receives the ticket."

Under state law, retailers are required "to inspect the photo ID of anyone who appears under the age of30 before selling a tobacco product or electronic cigarette."

The inspectors choose the locations to check, but if Westport police have received complaints about a particular establishment, that store will be checked, too, Woods said.

"I do not know the total number of retail establishments in Westport [that could be inspected]," Woods said. "Westport [stores are] typically very compliant when these inspections are conducted."

Woods added, "This inspection around, we had no specific stores and DHMAS simply picked five."