Evanston Businesses Ace Tobacco Compliance Sting

EVANSTON, IL - The Evanston Police Department's most recent tobacco compliance check once again uncovered no violators.

The department conducted an undercover sting on Tuesday by having underage people enter 33 local tobacco retailers and attempt to purchase tobacco products. If the store clerk sold the underage person the item, the business would be cited.

But none of the businesses failed the check, with every clerk tested questioning the undercover informant for identification.

"The police department would like to recognize the merchants for their diligence in properly verifying the age of individuals attempting to purchase tobacco products," the department wrote in a news release on Wednesday.

In Evanston, the legal tobacco age is 21. The city was among the first to enact a law raising the age from the traditional 18 a few years back.

Police used individuals between 16 and 19 years old for this operation, which is not the first time city retailers passed the compliance checks with a perfect mark this year.

In February, none of the 34 businesses targeted failed the check.

Police say the compliance checks are usually held twice a year.