Sims honors 14 Bothell and Kenmore retailers for refusing to sell tobacco to King County's youth

KING COUNTY, WA - Today, King County Executive Ron Sims and Public Health Director Dr. Alonzo Plough presented certificates of appreciation to fourteen Bothell and Kenmore retailers for their 5-year, perfect record of refusing to sell tobacco to minors.

King County Executive Ron Sims congratulates Bothell and Kenmore retailers.

"You and your staff have worked very hard to keep our youth healthy, ready to learn, and ready to meet the challenges of the future," said Sims to the business owners. "Your leadership serves as an example to retailers across King County, Washington State, and the whole country."

Tobacco use is the single most preventable cause of death in King County. More than 8 out of 10 adult smokers first became addicted to tobacco before their 18th birthday.

"Prevention of tobacco use -- especially among our young people -- is one of Public Health's top priorities," said Plough, Director of Public Health - Seattle & King County. "If we can keep our children from using tobacco before they are 18, chances are good that they'll never start using it."

King County's tobacco sales compliance check program began in 1989 and has grown into the largest in the United States. Currently, Public Health staff visit 2,200 businesses each year, educating retailers about legal requirements for sale of tobacco and conducting "sting" activities to assure that retailers refuse sale of tobacco to those under 18 years of age.

The overall compliance rate with laws prohibiting sale of tobacco products to minors is 94% for King County.

To carry out compliance checks, Public Health staff take teams of volunteer youth to randomly selected retailers in a community. The youth attempt to purchase cigarettes from the retailers. If the retailer refuses to make the sale, a congratulatory certificate and an educational packet are presented to the retailer.

If an illegal sale is made, the Public Health employee gives the retailer an educational packet with a notification to expect a visit from an agent of the Washington State Liquor Control Board for citation for violation of the tobacco sales law.

Selling tobacco to a minor costs retailers $100 for the first offense. The fine for a clerk is $50. Repeat offenders are fined up to $1000 and may have their license to sell cigarettes suspended.

The following Bothell and Kenmore businesses maintained a perfect record for the last 5 years for refusing to sell tobacco to minors:

A & J Market, 15812 116th St. NE, Bothell
Bartell Drug, 14130 Juanita Drive NE, Kenmore
Bothell Deli & Grocery, 10303 Main Street, Bothell
China Chef, 14130 Juanita Drive NE, Kenmore
Dave's Chevron & Food Mart, 15900 116th NE, Bothell
Dollar Store Plus, 18827 Bothell Way NE, Bothell
Fortune Inn Chinese Restaurant, 6825 NE 170th St, Kenmore
Inglewood Shell, 14106 Juanita Drive NE, Kenmore
Kenmore Mini Mart, 6115 Bothell Way NE, Kenmore
Nite & Day Grocery, 6233 Bothell1 Way, Kenmore
NU-Lite Restaurant, 6512 Bothell Way NE, Kenmore
Plaid Pantry, 6805 NE 170th, Kenmore
QFC, 6708 NE 181st, Kenmore
QFC, 18921 Bothell Way NE, Bothell

For more information on tobacco compliance checks and other tobacco prevention programs, please visit Public Health's website at www.metrokc.gov/health/tobacco.

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