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The annual South Carolina Youth Access to Tobacco Study reports that volunteers between 15 and 17 years old were only successful at purchasing cigarettes 11.6 percent of the time statewide. Beaufort County retailers, though, were much tougher. None of the minors who attempted to buy cigarettes here was successful. The survey is required in order for the South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services to receive $20 million in federal funding. That money is parceled out, based on population, to pay for substance abuse prevention and treatment programs across the state. Wade Bishop, director of prevention services for Beaufort County's alcohol and drug abuse department, said five local teens volunteered to help survey 13 sites at grocery stores, drug stores, convenience stores and restaurants. The state randomly selected the merchants from 137 tobacco sales outlets in the county, Bishop said. The teens were told not to lie and to bring no identification. Bishop said all local surveyed retailers asked for ID before turning the teens away. In a few weeks, those merchants will receive letters commending them for following the law. Merchants can face $200 fines for selling tobacco to minors. Minors who attempt to purchase can face up to $169 in fines and court costs, Bishop said. Surveyed stores and participating teens are exempted from the fines during the sampling. If merchants had sold to minors, they would have received a letter asking them to participate in a retailers' education program, said Steven Burritt who coordinates the state study. Burritt said most retailers ask for ID, but one in 10 still sell to minors either because they can't do the age math or choose to ignore the law. This year's results are an improvement, he added. Last year, teenagers were able to buy cigarettes 12.4 percent of the time, which is still well below the federally mandated standard of 20 percent. Burritt acknowledged that the 20 percent threshold was not difficult to meet. The consequences of not doing so, however, have both obvious health risks and a financial one as well. "If you don't make it, you jeopardize that $20 million," he said. BY THE NUMBERS 6,900: estimated number of tobacco sales outlets in South Carolina 445: outlets randomly sampled statewide in January and February 11.6: percentage of time retailers statewide sold cigarettes to minors 137: number of tobacco sales outlets in Beaufort County 13: number of county tobacco sales outlets surveyed 0: percentage of time retailers in Beaufort County sold to teenagers © Copyright 2006 by CigarettesOn.Com |
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