Tobacco sales
to minors
smoked out

Since the state began random
inspections two years ago, such
sales are down by two-thirds

By Gregg K. Kakesako
Star-Bulletin

Fewer stores are selling tobacco to minors, and the numbers continue to drop since the state Health Department started random inspections two years ago.

Health officials believe education has helped curb the sale of tobacco to minors.

The department today said 448 stores this spring were inspected to see if they were complying with state law, which prohibits the sale of tobacco products to anyone younger than 18.

Sixty-seven stores were found to be selling tobacco to minors, for a noncompliance rate of 15 percent, down from 22.8 percent a year ago and from 44 percent in 1996.

The highest noncompliance rate was on the Big island, according to the Health Department's inspections, where 36 stores were inspected and 16 were found to be selling to minors.

"These numbers clearly indicate that progress is being made as more inspections are done each year, and merchants and their sales clerks are better educated about laws regarding the sale of tobacco to minors," said Elaine Wilson, chief of the department's alcohol and drug abuse division.

To continue the program of unannounced inspections, the federal Food and Drug Administration recently awarded the state Health Department a $172,580 grant to conduct 1,200 inspections.

Under FDA rules, retailers are required to check for photo identification of anyone who looks younger than 27 and attempts to buy cigarettes or any other tobacco products. Retailers can be fined $250.

The University of Hawaii Cancer Research Center conducts the inspections.

In 1996 the Health Department began using volunteers, who supervised minors trying to buy tobacco products, during its first random unannounced inspections. Forty-four percent of the 339 stores inspected allowed the minors to buy cigarettes.

A year later, in collaboration with the Cancer Research Center and the Honolulu Police Department, Operation KATS (Kids Against Tobacco Sales) was launched where police issued citations to stores selling tobacco to minors.

This year, the operation was expanded to include Maui, Kauai and the Big Island.

A 1996 state health survey of 16,000 students in the 10-to-18 age range showed that most of them who use tobacco bought it themselves or got it from friends.