Shoreline Sees Big Increase in Tobacco Sold to Underage Customers in 2011

Recent tobacco retailer inspections in Shoreline found six out of 49 retailers selling tobacco to underage teens in eight separate incidents.

Public Health-Seattle King County which conducted the stings with trained 15-17-year-old teens, says that's startling reversal from inspections over the past five years, when a total of six violations (out of 200 inspections) were found over the entire period. In addition, two locations were found selling to minors twice in 2011. Overall, King County's high retailer compliance rate has dropped over the past two years from 96 percent in 2009 to 88 percent in 2011.

The establishments cited are:

• — 16053 Aurora Ave N (sold twice)
• — 19939 Ballinger Way NE (sold twice)
• — 17202 15th Ave NE
• — 16920 15th Ave NE
• — 640 NW Richmond Beach Road
• — 20036 Ballinger Way

"What's concering to us is that we're seeing a reversal in the trend of our inspections over the past five years," said James Apa, a spokesman for Public Health. "Traditionally, Shoreline has done well."

"To see eight violatioins in one year is concerning, particularly when you know 90 percent of current smokers become addicted before they're 19 years old," Apa said. "That's why it's so important to reach kids early and prevent them from getting started and prevent them from getting product or at least making it difficult to get product. That's why it's troubling to see more sales to kids. 

Durga Shrestha, a clerk at Top Tobacco, on Aurora Ave. N. a store that had two underage sales, was one of two employees there who sold to a teen in the sting.

"I didn't ask for ID," said Shrestha, who characterized what happened as a mistake on his part.

Shrestha, who has worked at the store for three years, said the fines would come out of his paycheck.

Shrestha said he planned to take a class for first-time offenders offered by the liquor control board which addresses age verification for alcohol and tobacco sales. If he completes the class he can reduce the fine.

In Washington State, selling tobacco to a minor is prohibited by law and results in a fine for retailers of $100 for the first offense within two year period and are educated about selling tobacco responsibly. The fine for a clerk is $50. A second offense is a $300 fine. Repeat offenses beyond that result in fines up to $1,500 and the business may have their license to sell tobacco products suspended. Retailers refusing to sell tobacco to minors are congratulated in person and given an information packet. Because of the increased sales to minors, Public Health's Tobacco Prevention Program will focus more inspections in Shoreline.

The high school students hired to do the inspections have identification and will provide it if asked.

"There are no tricks involved," Apa said. "They have the product and go to purchase it without being asked for ID. If they are asked for ID they provide it and presumably they won't be sold the product."

Meanwhile, the tobacco industry has become creative in its business practices to increase sales. 

"We've made progress over the past 10 years in reducing the impact of tobacco addiction in our community, but we need to keep this good work going," said Dr. David Fleming, Director of Public Health — Seattle & King County. "As funding for proven tobacco prevention programs is eliminated statewide, the tobacco industry continues to find new ways to market products that appeal to kids."

The tobacco industry has responded to tougher federal regulations around the marketing and advertising of cigarettes with new tobacco products that are attractive to youth, such as dissolvable tobacco that closely resembles gum, candy and breath strips, and cigars, cigarillos and snus (teabag-like pouches of tobacco) in flavors such as peach, chocolate, strawberry and grape.

Sales of tobacco to teens are a high concern because most adult tobacco addictions start in youth; 90 percent of current smokers became addicted before they were 19 years old. Overall, about a third of all kids who become regular smokers before adulthood will eventually die from smoking. Tobacco use is the leading cause of death in King County, leading to 1,990 deaths per year and $343 million in medical care costs, lost productivity and other expenses.

Retailer compliance checks are conducted throughout the year by Public Health and the Washington State Liquor Control Board, as well as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) due to new federal laws around tobacco and cigarettes. Anyone who witnesses a merchant or other adults providing tobacco to a minor is encouraged to call Public Health's Tobacco Prevention Program at 206-296-7613 to file a confidential complaint or text the information to 206-745-2548.

For more information about tobacco prevention, please visit Public Health - Seattle & King County's web site at www.kingcounty.gov/health/tobacco

Sources cited: Public Health-Seattle & King County.