Cigarettes and Tobacco News

Nov 17, 2005, TOPEKA -- A crackdown on sales of tobacco products to minors has brought Kansas back into compliance with federal law, according to the Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services.

Monitoring of retail stores over the past 12 months found that 80.2 percent did not sell cigarettes or other tobacco products to minors, the agency said.

A year ago, the state faced the loss of a $5 million federal substance abuse grant when monitoring found that only 62 percent refused sales to minors, said SRS spokesman Mike Deines. The fine kicks in when compliance drops below 80 percent, he said.

However, as an alternative to the fine, SRS opted to put $2 million toward retailer education and monitoring efforts, Deines said.

Stores can be fined up to $1,000 for each instance of selling tobacco to minors under state law.