Frustrated Owner Considers Pulling Tobacco From Store

Source from:  By Amy Olson Wausau Daily Herald aolson@wdhprint.com  04/25/2008

George Hiles said he might quit selling cigarettes and tobacco products at his store. Between thefts and possibly getting hit with fines for clerks failing to properly check people's identification, the longtime business owner said it might no longer be worth it. For the time being, he's moved the cigarette rack at the front of George's Marathon Foods behind the deli counter. "We didn't pass again," Hiles said of a police compliance check within the past two weeks. "I want to live within the law. I don't want to live above it," Hiles said. Marathon County health educator Amanda Ostrowski, who works with the county's tobacco compliance check program, said the checks are intended to ensure store employees are complying with laws prohibiting sales of tobacco products to minors. "We never suggested it. He totally came up with it on his own," Ostrowski said of Hiles considering pulling tobacco from his shelves. She said she was unaware of small businesses that have taken such a step. Target discontinued tobacco sales in 1996, according to a spokeswoman for the large retailer. Hiles said the store recently paid $100 to renew its tobacco license and likely will continue to sell products for the foreseeable future unless it fails another compliance check. He estimated the store makes about $40 to $50 a week from tobacco sales. Deciphering birth dates from the variety of driver's licenses can be tough when the store is busy, Hiles said, adding his eyes sometimes "jump" after working long hours. If the state wanted to make it easier and bring in more money, it should consider issuing separate tobacco identification cards, much as it did years ago when the legal age to drink beer was 18. He said he's concerned some of the younger of his 15 or so employees won't be able to afford the $150 citation for selling cigarettes to minors, triggering turnover. A few of the store's older customers and its clerks would like him to continue selling cigarettes. "This is the last-ditch effort," he said. "I don't want the kids to get the cigarettes." Enditem