Some Shops Fail Cigarette Selling Sting In Milford

The Milford Police Department and staff of the State of Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Tobacco Prevention and Enforcement Program, recently conducted unannounced compliance inspections at shops that sell cigarettes products. Several were cited for selling to underage purchasers.

The inspections were performed in an effort to determine compliance with state laws concerning the prohibition of the sale of buy cigarette online and/or discount cigarettes products to youth under the age of 18, police said.

Under the direction of Department of Mental Health investigators, an underage youth, employed by the Tobacco Prevention and Enforcement Program, entered the businesses and tried to purchase cheap cigarette online products.

A total of 24 unannounced compliance inspections were conducted. Of those, eight establishments were found to be in violation of the Connecticut General Statute 53-344(b) Sale of Tobacco to minors under 18, which carries a $200 fine. The offending clerks at these establishments were cited.

The cigarette dealer license holder at each establishment also faces additional administrative sanctions from the Department of Revenue Services, the state agency that issues cigarette dealer licenses.

The establishments found to be in violation are as follows:

Cumberland Farms at 1023 Boston Post Rd., Krausers at 631 Milford Point Rd., Woodmont Shell 190 Woodmont Rd., Sassy’s Liquor Locker at 965 Bridgeport Ave., Choe Food Mart Shell at 1345 New Haven Ave., Krausers at 361 Bridgeport Ave., Friendly Liquor Store at 240 Broad St., and One Stop Mart Sunoco at 298 Boston Post Rd.

Police also pointed out that the following businesses were found to be in compliance with the law and did not sell to the underage person:

BP Gas Station, Whiskey Barrel, New Town Market & Deli, Friendly 29 Sunoco, Milford Smoke Junction, Pete’s Deli & News, Napoli Deli, Buck Stop, One Stop Grocery & Convenience, Milford Tobacco Shop, Vineyard Package Store, Gromarts, News Den, Mobil on the Run and Milford Quick Mart Sunoco.