Tobacco Sales to Minors Costing Millions

By Rusty Surette, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The state of Oklahoma could lose millions of dollars, and careless convenience store clerks are being blamed.

If retail outlets such as convenience and grocery stores continue to sell tobacco to minors, the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services could lose millions of dollars in federal substance abuse block grant funds, a loss that would cripple the agency's efforts to help people recover from addiction.

Is your favorite convenience store selling to minors? Check this list and find out.

Illegal tobacco sales by retailers are jeopardizing up to 40 percent of the agency's federal substance abuse block grant, approximately $7 million, said ODMHSA Commissioner Terri White.

Retailers, also, are in danger of losing something - their tobacco licenses - if clerks continue to sell tobacco to those under the age of 18.

The federal Synar Amendment, authored in 1993 by the late Oklahoma Congressman Mike Synar, requires states to have a compliance rate of at least 80 percent regarding the sale of tobacco products to minors. This means that no more than 20 percent of stores that are randomly inspected by the Oklahoma Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement (ABLE) Commission can be cited for selling tobacco to minors.

Learn more about minors and the use of tabacco products.

Rates of non-compliance over the past three years have steadily increased, from 8.5 percent in 2006 to 18.1 percent in 2008.

"If it reaches 20 percent this year, Oklahoma is at risk of losing this federal funding," White said. The increase is why ABLE is increasing the number of random inspections for retail outlets.

The agency is hoping additional enforcement will force business owners to put a stop to underage tobacco sales.