Full Notification

February 9, 2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TOBACCO STING CONDUCTED IN SAN LUIS OBISPO CITY- 6 STORES DO NOT IDENTIFY UNDERAGE BUYER

On January 26, 2015 the San Luis Obispo Police Department, in cooperation with the San Luis Obispo County Public Health’s Tobacco Control Program, conducted a city wide tobacco sales compliance check operation. The compliance check utilized the help of two local teens who attempted to purchase tobacco at 36 locations. Six clerks of the 36 stores sold tobacco to the teen. One clerk did not ask the minor for identification. This compliance check resulted in a 16.7 % illegal sales rate.

During the compliance check the six stores that sold tobacco to the underage teens were:
San Luis Downtown Shell- 1101 Monterey St.
Rite Aid #5822- 756 Foothill Blvd
Cork N’ Bottle- 774 Foothill Blvd.
Conserve Fuel, Site 6103- 254 Santa Rosa
Albertsons #6372- 771 E. Foothill Blvd.
Laguna Shell- 11590 Los Osos Valley Rd.

In the ongoing effort to reduce youth access to tobacco, consistent checks of this type are conducted in cities and unincorporated areas throughout the county. Under Penal Code 308(a), it is illegal to furnish tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18. In order to help keep illegal tobacco sales rates low, the Tobacco Control Program will continue to work with the San Luis Obispo Police Department to conduct compliance checks on a regular basis.

Anyone with questions regarding the sale of tobacco products to minors is encouraged to call the Tobacco Control Program at (805) 781-5564.