Five of six Cowlitz County tobacco licensees pass compliance checks

Cowlitz County – Washington State Liquor Control Board enforcement officers, conducted six tobacco law compliance checks in Cowlitz County on Jan. 27, and five of the businesses checked refused to sell tobacco to an underage person employed by the Board.  

During the compliance checks a 15 or 16 year old enters a restaurant or grocery store and attempts to buy cigarettes.  During the Jan. 27 checks, the minor was able to purchase tobacco only at:

• Cougar Store, 16842 Lewis River Rd., Cougar

The Board commends the following five businesses for refusing to sell tobacco to a minor:

• Castle Rock Chevron, 1204 Spirit Lake Hwy, Castle Rock

• Jacks, 13411 Lewis River Road, Ariel

• Toad's Express Mart & Deli, 1155 Hoffman St., Woodland

• Woodland Chevron, 1010 Atlantic St., Woodland

• Woodland Shell, 1519 N Pacific St. Woodland

Clerks who sell tobacco to a minor receive a $50 fine for a first time offense. Licensees receive a penalty based on the following guidelines: 

• First offense $100 dollar fine,

• Second offense $300 dollar fine,

• Third offense $1,000 dollar fine with a six-month license suspension and,

• Fourth offense is a $1,500 dollar fine with a 12-month license suspension.

In 2004, Liquor Control board officers conducted 2,963 tobacco compliance checks statewide with 90 percent of tobacco licensees passing the checks. 

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Anyone who has information regarding illegal activity at a licensed establishment is encouraged to report that information to the Liquor Control Board’s toll-free tip line: 1-888-3956.
 

For more information, please contact Sharon Michael.