ALE Agents Nab Ten Clerks for Underage Tobacco Sales

Source from:  Oct 9, 2007 wavy.com 10/09/2007

Five North Carolina Alcohol Enforcement Agents (ALE) monitored 92 establishments in Currituck, Dare, Edgecombe, Halifax, Tyrell and Washington Counties and cited ten store clerks for underage tobacco sales, according to an Elizabeth City press release. They monitored the stores in an on-going effort to keep minors from purchasing tobacco products. ALE Director, Mike Robertson says, "Overall, clerks working in retail outlets do a good job checking identification and verifying that their customers are of legal age to purchase tobacco products," but says fines can be steep for those not checking ID's. The underage sale of tobacco is a class II misdemeanor and a clerk cited for selling tobacco to a minor faces up to a $1,000 fine or be ordered to serve 30 days of community service. Robertson also says, "The good news is that during the past few years, the number of stores out of compliance has been decreasing," and ALE agents will continue enforcement efforts. The release also states: In North Carolina, surveys show that more than 24,000 young people start smoking each year, and that 90% of adult smokers began using cigarettes before age 18. The average age of a new smoker is 13. Experts say that not only is smoking bad for your health, but it often leads to other drug use and increases the person's likelihood to commit a crime. Enditem