Tobacco sting nets 10 violations

November 5, 2016

During the past few weeks, deputies sent underage decoys to 48 San Luis Obispo County businesses to test if clerks would sell to customers under 21 years of age.

The decoys weren’t trying to buy alcohol, as of June the legal age to smoke cigarettes in California was raised to 21. Ten stores and eleven clerks failed the test and were cited for selling tobacco to underage customers.

Police issued the clerks a criminal citation for selling the tobacco, according to the sheriff’s department. Businesses that sold cigarettes to underage customers face administrative penalties including suspension of their ability to sell tobacco and a $1,000 fine for each offense. First and second offender business may elect to participate in a diversion program.

One store, the Oceano Market at 1711 Front Street, received its fourth citation.

Three stores, Paul’s Liquor at 101 N. Ocean Avenue in Cayucos; Bob & Jan’s Bottle Shop at 2292 Main Street in Cayucus and the Cambria Chevron at 2194 Main Steet in Cambria, received their third citation.

Another three stores received their second violation including the Nipomo Marketplace Chevron at 501 W. Tefft Street, the San Miguel Chevron at 998 K Street and the San Miguel Market & Deli at 1299 Mission Street.

In addition, three stores received their first violations including JJ’s Market at 2792 Halcyon Road in Arroyo Grande, Cayucos Gas & Mini Mart at 198 N. Ocean Avenue and Woodstone Marketplace at 6675 Bay Laurel Drive in Avila Beach.

The compliance checks focused on unincorporated communities including San Miguel, Santa Margarita, Cambria, Cayucos, Los Osos, Avila Beach, Oceano and Nipomo.