Benicia police cited employees at five stores at which a 17-year-old female decoy successfully bought tobacco products during a compliance sting operation June 25, Lt. Mike Greene said.

In all, the girl made stops at eight Benicia retailers where tobacco is sold, Greene said. “Unfortunately, five locations sold tobacco to the decoy,” he said.

Greene said an employee at Discount Cigarettes, 866 Southampton Road, failed to ask the minor decoy for identification and sold her a pack of Kool cigarettes. The employee was issued a citation accusing the person of furnishing tobacco to a person under the age of 18. The employee was not arrested and was allowed to remain at the store, Greene said.

Likewise, he said, an employee at SuperStop, 816 Southampton Road, also didn’t check the girl’s ID and sold her a pack of Newports. That worker also was given a citation, as were an employee at Bob’s Food and Liquor, 510 West J St., who sold the girl a pack of Newports after failing to check her ID; an employee at Chevron, 10 Solano Square, who did ask for the minor’s ID and still sold her a pack of Newports; and an employee at 7-Eleven, 500 Military East, who didn’t ask for ID before selling the girl a pack of Newports.

“The results of this operation are very disappointing,” Greene said. “Tobacco products present a significant health risk to our youth, and our local businesses have been much better in the past at refusing to sell tobacco to underage individuals.”

He said the purpose of the compliance stings isn’t to issue tickets. Rather, the goal of the partnership with the Benicia Police Department, Benicia Youth Action Coalition and the Solano County Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs (ATOD) Prevention Program is to reduce the use of those substances among Benicia youth.

“Total compliance with alcohol and tobacco sales laws is the mission,” Greene said.

He noted that other retailers remained in compliance.

“Benicia businesses to be commended for refusing to sell or furnish tobacco to a minor are Rose Market, 2064 Columbus Parkway; Chevron, 2054 Columbus Parkway; and Liquor Warehouse, 457 Military East.

Members of Benicia Police Department’s investigations unit conducted the sting as part of its periodic alcoholic beverage and tobacco compliancy checks, which take place two to five times a year. The checks are underwritten through a grant from the Solano County Board of Supervisors, the ATOD Prevention Program and the Benicia Police’s Youth Action Coalition.

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