NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CORRECTED COPY	CONTACT: Heather Krause (330) 270-2855 ext. 141 District Board of Health Mahoning County Or Jane Warga (330) 270-2855 ext. 131 District Board of Health Mahoning County
	DATE: October 21, 2005

The District Board of Health recently completed their yearly compliance checks of Mahoning County tobacco vendors. The goal of the compliance checks is to determine the percentage of vendors who are selling tobacco to minors. The compliance checks took place Friday, October 14th. Four volunteer drivers and 7 students from Jackson Milton and Struthers gave their time to help with the compliance checks. Of the attempted purchases made by youth volunteers, sales were made twenty-two percent of the time which is higher than last year’s rate of thirteen percent. The District Board of Health congratulates local businesses that comply with Ohio Revised Code Section 2927.02 that states that no tobacco retailer may sell tobacco products to any person under eighteen years of age. A total of eleven sales were made at the following locations:

True North on Market Street in Youngstown

Sami Quick Stop on Youngstown-Poland Road

Coitsville Sunoco

Sunoco in New Middletown

Sheetz in Canfield

Shell Gas in Canfield

Pilot Travel Centers

McQuaid’s in Austintown

Smoker Friendly in Austintown

Wedgewood Lanes in Austintown

Speedway in Austintown.

The penalty for selling tobacco to minors is a $500 fine.