Categories
· Teen Smoking/Youth
· Tobacco Control
USA, by State
· Pennsylvania
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Jump to full article: Scranton (PA) Times-Tribune, 2008-07-06
Intro: To prevent young adults from purchasing the harmful products as well as spare taxpayers additional health care costs incurred by smokers -- which total, on average, $5.19 billion annually in Pennsylvania, according to the state Department of Health -- two agencies in Lackawanna County have teamed up to help keep licensed tobacco retailers honest, and ensure that they are complying with the law.
The Northeast Regional Cancer Institute and the Lackawanna County district attorney's office are conducting unannounced compliance checks throughout the county. This includes sending 14- to 17-year-olds to about 365 businesses such as drug stores, gas stations and specialty shops to buy tobacco products.
His office has already "performed tobacco compliance checks on several hundred licensed tobacco retailers," Lackawanna County District Attorney Andrew Jarbola said in a written statement. "Just over 30 retailers were cited for illegal sale to minors."
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