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St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Lee Enterprises

Wednesday, November 18, 2009 8:57 PM CST
Retailers cited for selling tobacco to minor

By the JG/T-C
editorial@jg-tc.com

CHARLESTON- A compliance check Monday evening resulted in 11 retailers being found in violation of tobacco regulations for selling tobacco products to a minor.

The Charleston Police Department reported that it conducted a compliance check in which a minor was sent to all 19 tobacco retailers in town to purchase tobacco products under police supervision. The compliance check was funded by a state grant.

Hucks, Mike and Stan’s, Indio Cigar Factory, Lefty’s Holler, Murphy’s USA, Citgo, Discount Smoke Shop, The Panther Paw, Gateway Liquor, County Market, and Marathon/Mach 1 were found to be in violation for selling tobacco to the minor and the clerks were cited for city ordinance violations.

Lanman’s BP Station, Campus Liquor, Casey’s General Store, CVS Pharmacy, East Side Package, Walgreen’s Pharmacy, and Walmart all were in compliance. The Veterans of Foreign Wars post was closed to the public during the hours the compliance check was conducted.

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medic57 wrote on Nov 19, 2009 6:07 AM:

" The Charleston Police Department reported that it conducted a compliance check in which a minor was sent to all 19 tobacco retailers in town to purchase tobacco products under police supervision.

I see, so the Charleston Police gets some kid who is in minor trouble with the law, and promises to forget whatever he has done if he will go break the law for them. Purchase of tobacco or liquor by a minor is a violation of the law, who is the perpetrator here, hey! if you break the law for us it's ok. Right? "

~STRANGER~ wrote on Nov 19, 2009 8:37 AM:

" I think anybody sending a minor into an adult bar to purchase cigarettes should be charged as well.What if a fight would of broke out and the minor injured?Who's fault would that be?
Just how far will chambers go to get his paws on grant money? "

just a note wrote on Nov 19, 2009 11:15 AM:

" Come on you guys you would want these checks done if you have teenage children at the age of curoistiy, and this is done under very controled situations. I for one am glad they do this, if I was 17 I would volunter to do this, to keep one person from buying that first pack, or second pack, it is not like they are going in and sit down and have drink.....find something else to pick apart.... "

slap63 wrote on Nov 19, 2009 11:35 AM:

" LOL Medic as usual you have it wrong. I know who the minor was and that person isn't someone who was in trouble. And they weren't in any danger. Would you rather the kids be able to purchase tobacco? I think its great that they are doing what they can to keep something that kills out of kids hands. Yes, they may get tobacco somewhere else but I bet the places that were cited won't be selling to underage kids any time soon. Kudos for CPD for doing compliance checks. "

Harry Potter wrote on Nov 19, 2009 3:09 PM:

" Excellent comments just a note and slap63. "

medic57 wrote on Nov 19, 2009 4:17 PM:

" Come on you guys you would want these checks done if you have teenage children at the age of curoistiy, and this is done under very controled situations.

Controlled situations, they park at least a half block away. Illinois State law says it is ILLEGAL for minors to TRY to purchase and Tobacco. If they even try, they will be arrested, unless of course the cops provide the fake ID's. "

blackhawk wrote on Nov 19, 2009 5:36 PM:

" Medic............do you really think the cops would give a minor a fake id? 11 out of 19 were in violation and you are screaming of foul play by the police? How about the retailers doing their job and carding people!!! You always have a chip on your shoulder when it come to the police. You really make yourself sound uneducated. "

jrhendren wrote on Nov 19, 2009 11:24 PM:

" The minors are volunteers, and are not breaking any laws. It is the same as a drug sting, or prostitution sting. Heck, who knows maybe the minor is sworn in as a temp. police officer for these cases. "

prairieguy wrote on Nov 20, 2009 9:21 AM:

" Ah, life in Mayberry RFD... "

Texas T wrote on Nov 20, 2009 9:47 AM:

" I am having visions of Coles County's version of 21 Jump Street. I wonder if they have anyone as cute as Johnny Depp. "

Mike P wrote on Nov 21, 2009 9:09 AM:

" Reno 911 would be more like it. "

mhs82 wrote on Nov 21, 2009 11:13 AM:

" Looks like police entrapment to me. Isn't it entrapment when the police set up a sting and the minor to goes in and asks the clerk to sell a pack of cigarette's? Isn't the simple act of asking the clerk to do something illegal called entrapment?

A police officer cannot go request sex for money from a call girl, they have to wait for the call girl to first make the proposition of sex for money. The officer cannot say "I'll pay you to have sex" and then arrest her when she says "yeah, ok." Why would it be legal for the police to ask the clerk to do something illegal, make the request, then arrest them for saying OK. Seems like entrapment to me. "

Rohn Gordon wrote on Nov 21, 2009 4:55 PM:

" Mike and Stans, Leftys Holler and The Panther Paw are all bars. So there for when slap tells us > "And they weren't in any danger." he is wrong. Any time anyone walks into a bar, "any bar" at anytime there is a chance for danger end of the story. Any time there is alcohol and people consuming it there is a chance of violence, and anyone just walking into it could become involved just that fast. Sending minors into bars for a cigarette sting is ignorant.
As far as I know or understand a minor asking to buy tobacco is not illegal, but buying it is. If the minor asked and was told ok but did not accept the tobacco I would say no laws was broke by minor or law enforcement. I for one am glad they do these stings along with underage stings. But "never" send a minor into a bar. "

pj1983 wrote on Nov 21, 2009 6:24 PM:

" i was thinking along those lines as well, mhs82. "

Mama says wrote on Nov 21, 2009 8:07 PM:

" Most teens just tell parents and parents buy them the cigs anyway.
Same ones allow drinking beer at home.
I know of case the mom gave her son pot and he shared with friends, but they left the area when some of us had guts enough to speakup and wanted that stopped. Nothing like visiting in numbers to get such parents attention.
AND some never learn. "

medic57 wrote on Nov 21, 2009 9:32 PM:

" mhs82

Actually, if you read the laws posted in Bars, it is a crime for a minor to try and buy alcohol, the bartender or owner is required by law to hold the license until the police arrive, a friend of mine tried to hold one once, the cop came in and told him he had to give the fake ID back. "

kamfong wrote on Nov 22, 2009 10:20 AM:

" The next thing you know they'll be trying to arrest drug dealers around here. "