Underage Tobacco Sales Post 1st Rise in 5 Years

Tobacco sales to youths climbed last year for the first time in five years, the California Department of Health Services said Tuesday.

A random survey of 455 retailers found that 17% illegally sold tobacco products to children. That’s up about 30% from 1998, when 13% of retailers were tagged by a similar survey.

“The resurgence in illegal sales is disturbing because the ramifications are staggering,” state Health Director Diana Bonta said in releasing the results. “Every day in California nearly 300 children become addicted to tobacco. One-third of them will die prematurely from their addiction.”

The survey had been showing a steady decline in sales to minors. The percentage of retailers making illegal sales fell from 37% in 1995 to 29% in 1996 and 22% in 1997.

Among the survey’s findings:

* The worst offenders were gas stations. The department found 32% broke the law, up 57% from 1998.

* Illegal sales at supermarkets grew 238%, from 5% in 1998 to 17% last year.

* Nearly one in five of the small grocery convenience stores surveyed sold to minors, up 39% from 1998.

* The percentage of stores displaying signs warning against sales to minors slipped 10% since 1997. About 68% of stores displayed the signs.

* Less than 2% of clerks who asked for age identification sold to minors. Of clerks who did sell to minors, 95% did not ask for age I.D.

The survey has been conducted since 1995 as part of state and federal laws aimed at youth smoking. Youths age 15 and 16 were used to attempt to buy tobacco products from the retailers last May, said department spokesman Ken August.

Owners of stores caught selling to minors are fined $300 for a first offense and up to $6,000 for a fifth and each additional offense within a five-year period.