More Stores Selling Cigarette to Minors
December 13, 2012
Hey kid, got a light? The number of stores that sold cigarettes to minors jumped up to the highest level in ten years. Meanwhile, the state Department of Health is working to fight teen tobacco use, but has less money from the legislature to wage that war.
Spokesman Tim Church said 16% of stores targeted in stings illegally sold tobacco to minors in 2012. That is up from 11% last year and 10% in 2010. Meanwhile, Church said the budget for tobacco prevention programs has been slashed. So with youth smoking still hovering around 13%, Church said getting out the anti-smoking message is crucial