News Release                              For Immediate Release

                                                                                                                         April 2, 2008

Most Tobacco Retailers Pass Compliance Testing

In 2007, Public Health carried out 385 compliance checks of tobacco retailers across Grey Bruce. Overall, 86% of the retailers tested, did not sell to the under-age test shopper. The provincial compliance rate was 90% in 2007. Both results are similar to 2006 findings. Research shows the availability of tobacco and the willingness of their peers and adults to supply tobacco are important environmental factors strongly influencing whether or not young people will start smoking. Approximately 10% of teens in Grey Bruce smoke daily or occasionally. 

Under the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, it is illegal to sell or supply tobacco product to an individual under 19 years. Tobacco enforcement officers with Public Health monitor tobacco retailers for compliance, with the assistance of 15 to 17 year-old test shoppers who visit tobacco retailers and attempt to purchase a tobacco product.

“Unfortunately, a minority of tobacco retailers continue to sell to youth under 19. We need to decrease retail tobacco sales to youth and ensure that other social sources such as friends, family and strangers are not available. We need to change the way we think about youth and tobacco so that supplying tobacco to youth is considered unacceptable in the same way as drinking and driving is unacceptable.” says Linda Davies, Manager of the Tobacco Control Program.

For further information, call Public Health at 519-376-9420 or visit our web site at www.publichealthgreybruce.on.ca.

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For more information:

Laurie Moore

Tobacco Enforcement and Education Officer

Grey Bruce Health Unit

519-376-9420 or 1-800-263-3456 ext. 479