Arizona Attorney General Sues Smoke Shops for Tobacco Sales to Minors

Categories: Arizona Breaking NewsArizona State News

Arizona Attorney General's lawsuit aims to curb underage tobacco sales.

News Summary

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has filed a lawsuit against two Phoenix-area smoke shops for allegedly selling tobacco products to minors. The lawsuit targets New York Smoke Shop LLC and Pro Source, which face significant fines and potential business closure. Investigations revealed high failure rates in compliance checks, with both shops employing deceptive marketing strategies aimed at minors. The lawsuit aims to uphold strict regulations around tobacco sales and protect youth from nicotine addiction.

Arizona – Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has initiated a lawsuit against two smoke shops in the Phoenix area for allegedly selling tobacco products to minors. This legal action targets New York Smoke Shop LLC and Pro Source, both of which have come under scrutiny for their practices that reportedly violate state laws prohibiting the sale of tobacco to underage individuals. The Attorney General’s announcement was made during a news conference held on July 8 at her office near Central Avenue and McDowell Road.

Mayes has voiced serious concerns about the shops’ actions, stating that they have “persistently and recklessly” sold nicotine products to underage shoppers. The lawsuit is part of a broader initiative aimed at cracking down on retailers that fail to comply with regulations concerning the sale of tobacco products to minors. In her statement, Mayes highlighted the significance of the lawsuit, describing it as the “business version of the death penalty” for those shops found to be violating the law.

Both smoke shops are accused of employing deceptive advertising strategies that appeal to younger consumers, including items such as vape devices disguised as children’s toys like a Hot Wheels car. Investigations into these shops were part of the Attorney General’s Office Counter Strike program, which utilizes youth volunteers to attempt purchases of restricted products in order to ensure compliance with the law.

Data from the inspections over the past three years have painted a troubling picture for New York Smoke Shop, which reportedly had an 83% failure rate in the inspections, successfully passing only one out of six attempts. Pro Source fared only slightly better, with a 67% failure rate during the same timeframe. As a consequence of these findings, the lawsuit aims to seek damages exceeding $10,000 for each violation along with an injunction to prevent both companies from continuing their operations.

New York Smoke Shop operates multiple locations across Phoenix, specifically on Ray Road and McClintock Drive, as well as in Chandler. Pro Source has establishments in Glendale, Scottsdale, and Tempe. Attempts to gather comments from representatives of either shop were unsuccessful as of July 8.

This lawsuit comes amidst growing concerns surrounding youth vaping, especially noted in Pima County, where 29 tobacco retailers failed inspections last year. In contrast, some local retailers like Sticky’s Smoke Shop have publicized their adherence to strict identification checks, ensuring that anyone appearing to be under the age of 40 presents valid identification prior to making any purchase of tobacco products.

The Attorney General reinforced the commitment to protect the younger generation from the hazardous effects of nicotine addiction. Her office is unwavering in its stance, stating that it is unacceptable for vape shops to continue circumventing the law in Arizona. Arizona law explicitly prohibits the sale of tobacco products to anyone under 21 years of age, and violations can result in significant fines and the potential removal of operating licenses for offending retailers.

The enforcement of these laws is critical in the ongoing effort to reduce access to tobacco products for minors and to curb the rising tide of nicotine addiction among youth in the state. The legal actions against New York Smoke Shop and Pro Source are expected to serve as a warning to other retailers regarding the serious consequences of non-compliance with state regulations concerning tobacco sales.