Nine of 10 Kennewick tobacco licensees pass compliance check

Kennewick – Washington State Liquor Control Board enforcement officers, accompanied by Tobacco Free representatives, conducted 10 tobacco law compliance checks in Kennewick on Jan. 26, and nine 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. 26 checks, the minor was able to purchase tobacco only at:

• Wal-Mart Supercenter, 2720 S. Quillan St.

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

• Albertson's Fuel Center, 5208 W. Clearwater

• Grand Central Coffee Station, 3419 W. Clearwater Ave.     

• Johnny's Smoke Shop & Espresso, 2802 W. 10^th Ave.

• Kennewick Smoke & Gift Shop, 2404 W. Kennewick Ave.    

• Safeway, 2825 W. Kennewick Ave.

• Smitty's Conoco, 33 S. Garfield

• Steptoe Foodmart Texaco, 1901 N. Steptoe

• Sun Mart, 2105 W. 4^th Ave.     

• V & H Market, 4111 W. Clearwater Ave.     

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.