North Ridgeville Review The Community That Cares
Ten Tobacco Stores Sold to an Underage Customer
Lorain County Public Health (LCPH) visited tobacco stores in Lorain County to complete audits and compliance checks. Store audits check the type and location of tobacco advertising and prices of tobacco products. Compliance checks test the sale of tobacco to people under 21.
“Research shows that youth who see frequent tobacco advertising are two times more likely to try tobacco than youth that do not see tobacco advertising frequently,” says David Covell, MPH, RS, health commissioner at LCPH. “Prevention policies like Tobacco 21 and flavor bans that include mentholated products aim to reduce youth tobacco use. Store audits and compliance checks help LCPH understand how retail influences a teenager’s tobacco use. They also help us identify areas for prevention.”
LCPH completed store audits at a sample of 75 Lorain County stores. Key findings from the store audits include:
- 80% had signs saying that the legal age of purchase is 21 years.
- 44% advertised menthol cigarettes.
- 14% advertised JUUL products.
- 10% advertised tobacco products within three feet of the ground (at eye level of children).
- The average price for a pack of non-menthol cigarettes was $5.45. The average price for a pack of menthol cigarettes was $6.78.
LCPH completed compliance checks at a sample of 39 Lorain County stores. Ten stores sold tobacco to an underage informant. The compliance checks were unannounced and done during regular business hours. LCPH will inform store owners about the sale and share resources related to Tobacco 21. The stores that sold to an underage informant did not receive a fine and local law enforcement was not involved.
The Ohio Department of Health generated and provided the store samples. The Tobacco Use Prevention and Cessation Program grant funded by the Ohio Department of Health supported the store audits and compliance checks.
Learn more about youth tobacco use in Lorain County at LorainCountyHealth.com/Ecigarettes. To talk about tobacco prevention, call Lorain County Public Health at 440-322-6367 or email HealthEd@LorainCountyHealth.com.
