Lockyer, 7-Eleven Sign Agreement Restricting Sales of Tobacco to Minors
Attorney General Bill Lockyer (D) on Thursday announced that the state has reached an agreement with 7-Eleven that will require the company to adopt policies intended to reduce cigarette sales to minors, the Sacramento Bee reports.
The voluntary compliance agreement prohibits the 1,224 stores in the state from placing tobacco ads adjacent to products that minors frequently purchase, as well as placing outdoor tobacco ads within 500 feet of schools and playgrounds. In addition, 7-Eleven employees will be required to check the identification of customers purchasing tobacco products if they appear to be younger than age 27. The agreement also prohibits vending machine sales of tobacco products or "look-alike products" and bans the sale of smoking paraphernalia to minors.
7-Eleven will pay $375,000 to support consumer tobacco-education programs and the costs of negotiating the agreement.
The agreement, which also includes 39 other states and the District of Columbia, is part of a multistate enforcement effort that also includes Wal-Mart, Walgreen, Rite Aid, and all gas stations and convenience stores operating under the Exxon, Mobil, BP, Arco and Amoco names (McIntosh, Sacramento Bee, 8/12).