The Coalition, Inc. has partnered with the Polk County Sheriff’s Department in an effort to prevent and reduce the harmful use of tobacco products in rural areas like East Texas, where tobacco-related health problems are more prevalent.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Department targeted area businesses that sell tobacco. The age limit to purchase tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, is now 21, per the new guidelines from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA). However, all sting operations used a minor under the age of 18 in order to allow retailers time to update current practices and train employees. Out of the 82 attempts done in June, July and August, 12 citations were issued to the following businesses that sold tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, to minors.
The businesses that sold tobacco products to minors include:
RB’s Lake Grocery on 2825 FM 2457 in Livingston;
2 Food Mart on 2400 N Washington Ave in Livingston;
Beacon Bay Food Mart on 7384 FM 3126 in Livingston;
Sun Mart #308 on 4727 US Highway 695 in Livingston;
Veterans Mart on 1809 N Washington Ave in Livingston;
Stripes Store 41012H on 2301 US Highway 190 W in Livingston;
Beacon Bay Food Mart on 7384 FM 3126 in Livingston;
Goodrich Mart on 7183 US Highway 59 N in Goodrich;
Shopper Stop on 806 S Home St in Corrigan;
Big Ben’s on 16281 US Highway 59 N in Moscow;
On the Road #153 on 4653 US Highway 59 S in Livingston;
Murphy USA #7547 on 1616 W Church St in Livingston.
We commend those businesses who did not sell tobacco products to minors in our community. The Coalition and the Polk County Sheriff’s Department thank all of these stores for protecting the youth of Angelina County from the dangers of tobacco and nicotine. For a complete list of those businesses that were under compliance, please visit The Coalition’s Facebook page @thecoalition936 or contact The Coalition at (936) 634-9308 for more information.