​Evanston Police Conduct Tobacco Compliance Checks

EVANSTON, IL — On Thursday, February 16, 2016, the Evanston Police Department juvenile bureau detectives conducted a tobacco compliance check operation at thirty-three merchants throughout the city to ensure that tobacco is not being sold to individuals under the age of 21, in accordance with city ordinance.

As a result of this operation, two businesses were found to be in violation by selling tobacco to a person under the age of 21. The businesses cited were the Davis Pantry, 927 Davis Street and Open Pantry, 821 Dempster Street.

These operations are usually conducted three times each year at various times to keep businesses in compliance with state and local ordinances that restrict the sale of products such as tobacco. State law prohibits sale to minors under 18 years of age, City of Evanston ordinance prohibits sales to individuals under the age of 21.

For this reason, individuals between the ages of 16-19 were used for the tobacco compliance operation, with parental consent if they were minors. These individuals enter the establishment under the supervision of law enforcement and attempt to make a purchase. If the establishment sells the age controlled product without checking the proper identification to verify the underage purchaser is of age, the establishment is then cited for the underage sale.

The Evanston Police Department thanked merchants that properly verified the age of individuals attempting to purchase tobacco products.

Information courtesy of EPD