Caledonia Argus

Local businesses cited for tobacco sales to minors

Posted: 8/26/03

Selling cigarettes to minors has landed six Houston County businesses in hot water.

The Houston County Sheriffís Office conducted a routine check of area businessí compliance with tobacco laws in late July. A 16-year old female was deployed and told to attempt to purchase cigarettes from the stores.

Businesses that sold cigarettes to the 16-year old were: Ferndale Golf Course, Rushford; High Plains Cenex, Houston; The Corner Bar, Houston; Texaco Food Mart, Houston; Sandyís Grocery and Eatery, Eitzen; Bissenís Tavern, Brownsville.

Stores that were in compliance and did not sell to the minor were: Ma Cal Grove Country Club, rural Caledonia; Roscoeís bar, Eitzen; Kwik Trip, Brownsville; Lawrence Lake Marina, Brownsville.

The investigation did not include stores in Caledonia, Spring Grove, La Crescent, or Hokah, since local police departments are responsible for enforcing tobacco laws in these municipalities, according to a spokesperson for the Sheriffís Office.

Both the businesses and the clerks that sold the cigarettes were cited for sale of tobacco to a minor, and those cited have a mandatory court appearance on September 9 in the Houston County Courthouse.

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