Euclid - The City of Euclid is one of several communities in Cuyahoga County that has passed a local Tobacco 21 ordinance, which requires local permitting of retailers that sell tobacco and tobacco-related products, the posting of required signage and routine inspections of these locations.
Local ordinances like the one introduced and guided by Euclid Councilwoman Taneika Hill enhance measures passed by the state legislature, which includes the recent statewide increase of the legal age to purchase tobacco products to 21.
“I sponsored the Tobacco 21 legislation here in Euclid because I saw that the underage use of tobacco products was a serious public health problem,” said Euclid Councilwoman Taneika Hill.
In support of the ordinance, the Cuyahoga County Board of Health (CCBH) recently conducted underage tobacco purchase attempts throughout Euclid to assess compliance with the ordinance. They found that 38% of the retailers who are currently permitted under the program sold a tobacco product to an underage purchaser who was working under the direct supervision of a CCBH official.
“Rates of teen vaping have skyrocketed in the United States,” according to Cuyahoga County Health Commissioner Terry Allan. “We know that when you check for vendor compliance with the Tobacco 21 law, you help reduce sales to youth in the future.”
List of Violators
These retailers sold a tobacco product to an underage purchaser in Euclid during our recent visit:
1. Celtronix 639 East 185 Street
2. Dave’s Supermarket 22501 Shore Center Drive
3. Dollar General 27561 Euclid Avenue
4. Dollar General 22510 Lakeshore Boulevard
5. Euclid Beverage 25657 Euclid Avenue
6. Euclid Mini Mart & Gas 27611 Euclid Avenue
7. EZ Go Kwik Mart 19019 Euclid Avenue
8. Family Dollar 21157 Euclid Avenue
9. Family Dollar 25991 Euclid Avenue
10. Shell 26051 Euclid Avenue
11. Shore Center Beverage 22808 Lakeshore Boulevard
12. Simon’s Supermarket 25831 Euclid Avenue
13. Sunoco 940 East 222 Street
14. Sunoco 19365 Euclid Avenue
Those who violated Euclid’s tobacco ordinance were contacted by phone and are receiving warning letters, as stipulated in the ordinance. Repeated violations at these locations will result in civil penalties of up to $1,000 and the potential suspension or revocation of the retailer’s permit to sell tobacco products.
“Protecting our kids from lifelong addiction to tobacco products is our civic responsibility,” said Euclid Mayor Kirsten Holzheimer Gail. “I appreciate the Cuyahoga County Board of Health’s partnership and leadership on this issue.”
To learn more about Tobacco 21, please visit https://www.ccbh.net/tobacco-21/.
Photo by: Boonchai Wedmakawand / Getty Images
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