Windsor store penalized for selling tobacco to minors: health unit

Rivard Convenience store at 2496 Rivard St. in Windsor, Ont., on Monday, Sept. 12, 2016. (Alana Hadadean / CTV Windsor)

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit has banned a local convenience store from selling tobacco.

Rivard Convenience at 2496 Rivard Street was convicted of repeatedly selling tobacco products to persons under the age of 19 within a five-year period, say health unit officials.

On Aug. 29, Rivard Convenience at 2496 Rivard St. lost their ability to sell tobacco for 9 months.

The prohibition order is issued by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and forbids the operator from selling or storing any form of tobacco in their store.

“These restrictions are in place to protect our youth by preventing their access to tobacco and they are important components of the Smoke-Free Ontario Act,” says Eric Nadalin, manager of chronic disease and injury prevention.

“Tobacco retailers are continually advised and educated about their requirement to restrict youth access to tobacco products, and are aware of the progressive enforcement process that is in place.”

Nadalin says the enforcement of this requirement is an important strategy to reduce youth access and uptake of tobacco.

Under the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, it is illegal to sell or supply any tobacco product, including cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, little cigars, and blunt wraps, to a person under 19 years of age. Retailers are required to ask anyone who appears to be under the age of 25 years for identification.

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit conducts regular compliance inspections and offers a variety of educational strategies at all establishments that sell tobacco in our community.