Authorities Bust Calabasas Business For Underage Tobacco Sales

CALABASAS, CA — Authorities suspended a Calabasas business from selling tobacco after they were caught illegally selling to someone under 21 years old, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Lost Hills Station.

A Calabasas cashier who knowingly sold tobacco to someone under the age of 21 was cited and released during a recent sting operation, the department said. The store was suspended from selling tobacco products for six months. This was the store's first offense, according to the department.

The department conducted 13 sting operations in the city to check if stores were selling tobacco to people under 21 years old. 12 other stores proved they were checking IDs and being restrictive, according to the department.

The city of Calabasas in December received a $159,207 grant from the California Department of Justice to help reduce illegal tobacco sales to people under the age of 21. The grant was expected to help increase the city's normal three annual sting operations to six.

23.6 percent of high school students and 6.7 percent of middle school students used a tobacco product in 2020, according to the Center for Disease Control.