This 99 Cent Outlet business was one of five establishments cited over the weekend for selling tobacco to minors. Photo a Google Maps screenshot.
Long Beach police cited five businesses for selling tobacco to minors during a compliance check over the weekend, authorities announced.
Juvenile Investigations detectives with the Long Beach Police Department contacted 23 establishments on Saturday, June 4, LBPD officials stated.
During the Tobacco Decoy Operation in the city’s West Patrol Division, minors requested to buy a tobacco product, if the establishment sold it to them a misdemeanor citation was issued, according to officials.
“If there wasn’t a sale, a letter thanking the business for compliance was provided,” officials stated.
In total, five establishments sold tobacco products to minors, they include:
- KM Market, 2202 Long Beach Boulevard
- 99 Cent Outlet, 311 West Willow Street
- Smoking Box, 1008 Alamitos Avenue
- Computer Repair/Gift Shop, 615 East 10th Street
All businesses are reminded to check for identification before any tobacco-related sales.
The current age to legally purchase tobacco and tobacco products is 18 in California. In May, Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill that raises the tobacco purchase age to 21 in the state.