News
Released: July 11, 2012 - Wednesday, 09:40 AM
The San Luis Obispo County Health Agency’s Tobacco Control Program in coordination with the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office conducted a recent countywide tobacco sales compliance check operation which ended on July 5, 2012. The enforcement activity utilized underage decoys to regulate illegal sales of tobacco products to minors and resulted in a 21.15% illegal sales rate in the unincorporated areas of the county. These compliance checks focused on unincorporated communities including but not limited to San Miguel, Santa Margarita, Cambria, Cayucos, Los Osos, Avila Beach, Oceano and Nipomo. The incorporated cities within the county did not participate in these sting operations.
With the assistance of three local teen (under age 18) decoys, fifty-two tobacco retailer locations were visited throughout the county. Eleven clerks of the fifty-two stores sold tobacco to the decoy. Of the eleven clerks cited for unlawful sales of tobacco products to a minor, only one did not ask the minor for identification prior to completing the sale.
Under Penal Code § 308(a), it is illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18.
During the compliance check enforcement operations, the eleven stores that engaged in the illegal sale of tobacco to a minor were:
1. Avila Mercantile & Grocery, 354 Front Street, Avila Beach, CA 93424
2. Bob & Jan’s Bottle Shop, 2295 Main Street, Cambria, CA 93428
3. Old Cambria Market Place, 589 Main Street, Cambria, CA 93428
4. Paul’s Liquor, 101 N Ocean Boulevard, Cayucos, CA 93430
5. Ralphs # 271, 1240 Los Osos Valley Road, Los Osos, CA 93402
6. CVS Pharmacy #9782, 610 W Tefft Street, Nipomo, CA 93444
7. La Placita Market, 515 Orchard Road, Nipomo, CA 93444
8. Super Carniceria La Chiquita, 170 S Thompson Avenue, Nipomo, CA 93444
9. Vons Store #1621, 525 Tefft Street, Nipomo, CA 93444
10. Margarita Mercantile, 22304 G Street, Santa Margarita, CA 93453
11. San Simeon Mini Mart, 9520 Castillo Drive, San Simeon, CA 93452
The San Luis Obispo County Health Agency's Tobacco Control Program offers an educational program to those retailers that includes how to refuse a sale, identify an underage buyer and properly read an identification card or drivers license.
Members of the public or media with questions regarding the sale of tobacco products to minors are encouraged to call the Tobacco Control Program at (805) 781-5564.
Tobacco Sting
Contact: Tony CipollaPhone: (805) 781-4547Date and time of incident: NAPlace of Occurrence: Multiple LocationsVictim Information: NASuspect Information: NATOBACCO STING CONDUCTED IN SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY - 11 STORES CAUGHT SELLING TO MINORSThe San Luis Obispo County Health Agency’s Tobacco Control Program in coordination with the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office conducted a recent countywide tobacco sales compliance check operation which ended on July 5, 2012. The enforcement activity utilized underage decoys to regulate illegal sales of tobacco products to minors and resulted in a 21.15% illegal sales rate in the unincorporated areas of the county. These compliance checks focused on unincorporated communities including but not limited to San Miguel, Santa Margarita, Cambria, Cayucos, Los Osos, Avila Beach, Oceano and Nipomo. The incorporated cities within the county did not participate in these sting operations.
With the assistance of three local teen (under age 18) decoys, fifty-two tobacco retailer locations were visited throughout the county. Eleven clerks of the fifty-two stores sold tobacco to the decoy. Of the eleven clerks cited for unlawful sales of tobacco products to a minor, only one did not ask the minor for identification prior to completing the sale.
Under Penal Code § 308(a), it is illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18.
During the compliance check enforcement operations, the eleven stores that engaged in the illegal sale of tobacco to a minor were:
1. Avila Mercantile & Grocery, 354 Front Street, Avila Beach, CA 93424
2. Bob & Jan’s Bottle Shop, 2295 Main Street, Cambria, CA 93428
3. Old Cambria Market Place, 589 Main Street, Cambria, CA 93428
4. Paul’s Liquor, 101 N Ocean Boulevard, Cayucos, CA 93430
5. Ralphs # 271, 1240 Los Osos Valley Road, Los Osos, CA 93402
6. CVS Pharmacy #9782, 610 W Tefft Street, Nipomo, CA 93444
7. La Placita Market, 515 Orchard Road, Nipomo, CA 93444
8. Super Carniceria La Chiquita, 170 S Thompson Avenue, Nipomo, CA 93444
9. Vons Store #1621, 525 Tefft Street, Nipomo, CA 93444
10. Margarita Mercantile, 22304 G Street, Santa Margarita, CA 93453
11. San Simeon Mini Mart, 9520 Castillo Drive, San Simeon, CA 93452
The San Luis Obispo County Health Agency's Tobacco Control Program offers an educational program to those retailers that includes how to refuse a sale, identify an underage buyer and properly read an identification card or drivers license.
Members of the public or media with questions regarding the sale of tobacco products to minors are encouraged to call the Tobacco Control Program at (805) 781-5564.
