Southington smoke shops fail compliance checks, sell to minors

SOUTHINGTON — On Nov. 13, the Southington Police Department, alongside the DMHAS Prevention and Health Promotion Division Tobacco Prevention and Enforcement Program (TPEP) and the Southington STEPS Coalition, conducted a series of undercover compliance checks at local smoke shops, resulting in multiple infractions for illegal sales to minors.

The operation, which targeted 12 retail establishments known for selling tobacco and vape products, utilized an underage buyer without identification to test the adherence to laws prohibiting sales to individuals under 21.

The compliance checks, which began at approximately 4:45 p.m., found six businesses in violation.

Violating stores included Food Mart (Sunoco) at 398 Main Street, Cigar Plus Tobacco Shop at 909 Meriden Waterbury Turnpike, K & M Smoke Shop at 1672 Meriden Waterbury Turnpike, Smoke Village at 861 Queen Street, Smoke Valley N Convenience at 1173 Queen Street, and Cigar and Vape Hookah at 400 North Main Street.

Employees at these establishments were issued infractions under C.G.S. 53a-344b(b) for the illegal sale of vape products to individuals under the age of 21.

The Southington Police Department, headed by Chief John F. Daly, has expressed a continued commitment to preventing the sale of tobacco and vape products to underage customers and will persist in partnership with local agencies to enforce these regulations.