Augustg 03, 2007 - Ever since the responsibilities and duties involving the issuance of tobacco licenses and imposition of penalties for violations were transferred from the Department of Health to the Compliance Unit of the Department of Human and Social Services last year, many local vendors have been more compliant with the law as the fines for violations have since been increased by a whopping 900%
That’s right! In previous years, vendors caught selling tobacco products to minors were only fined $100, which was merely a slap on the wrist for some big time retailers. However, that fine has since ballooned to $1,000 for first time offenders and for every subsequent violation, another $1,000 is added.
(i.e. second time offenders pay $2,000, third time offenders pay $3,000 etc.)
Compliance Unit acting manager Emelio Fruean says that store owners are now beginning to take the matter seriously, although there are still a few businesses permitting the sale of tobacco to minors, as a way to “make a quick buck.”
To help locate problematic stores, the Compliance Unit, which includes Fruean and three other officers, carry out the annual SYNAR program, using underage girls and boys between 13-15 years old as buyers.
This year’s SYNAR program is being conducted this month, and a report on exactly how many stores were found to be in violation is yet to be released.
During the operation, the teens are escorted to the nearly 200 different stores around the territory by members of the Compliance Unit. Once there, the teens are sent into the stores to buy cigarettes, while a compliance officer roams the aisles and monitors the transaction to ensure the safety of the young “buyers.”
If the vendor refuses the sale, the group moves on to the next store. However, if the transaction goes through, then the compliance officer walks up to the counter and a citation is issued.
All citations are presented before a hearing board that is headed by DHSS deputy director Usuia Fano. It is the board who issues the ultimate decision on what, if anything, will be done to the vendor (fine imposition, suspension, or revocation of the business’
tobacco license).
“The board has the final word,” Fruean explained.“They can either overturn our report or impose any fines or penalties they see fit.”
He added, “With the new fines in place, and the enforcement of the SYNAR program, the number of violations has since decreased less than half as compared to previous years.”
In addition to busting stores for selling cigarettes to minors, the Compliance Unit also cracks down on stores that break other areas of the law which include the sale of single cigarettes out of the package, failure to properly display tobacco licenses where it is in full view of the public, and selling cigarettes without a tobacco license.
“The same fine applies,” Fruean explained. “No license means a fine of $1,000!”
A tobacco license can be obtained from the Compliance Unit office on the second floor of the ASNAP building in Utulei. The licenses, which cost $25, must be renewed on an annual basis.
“Our goal is to discourage the illegal sale of tobacco products, especially to our young people,” Fruean offered. “In an effort to stop our youth from experimenting with tobacco products and alcohol, everyone, especially local vendors, must do their part in helping to deter the practice. Keeping the territory’s kids smoke-free is a community effort and one of the ways to ensure this happens is by letting the young people know that they can’t just walk into a store and buy a pack of cigarettes.”
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