Local stores pass recent tobacco compliance checks

In tobacco compliance checks conducted Sunday, November 9, 2014 between 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM, an underage youth, supervised by the Tobacco Program Coordinator, visited all tobacco retailers in Reading. None of the stores sold tobacco products to the underage youth. In all cases the clerk asked for an ID and refused to sell the requested tobacco product.

According to the CDC almost 30% of boys and 18% of girls in middle and high school used some type of tobacco product in 2012. That percent is probably higher now due to the increased popularity of emerging tobacco and nicotine-only products. It is important that our local retailers are aware of and comply with local, state, and federal tobacco regulations.

In states where there are more limits on youth tobacco access not only do fewer teens smoke, these states also have lower adult smoking rates. This is significant because 80 to 90% of adult smokers started smoking when in their teens. If the advent of smoking is delayed until post-teen years, it is less likely for an individual to become addicted to smoking.

The Reading Health Department and the Tobacco Prevention Program would like to thank the retailers of Reading for complying with tobacco regulations and for not selling these addictive products to underage youth.

Maureen Buzby, Coordinator
Mystic Valley Tobacco Alcohol Program
781-979-4158
mbuzby@cityofmelrose.org