News Release

June 3, 2003                   (937) 374-5600 or 1-866-858-3588

Greene County Combined Health District Announces Results of Tobacco Sales Compliance Checks

in Greene, Clinton, and Fayette Counties and the Cities of Hamilton and Middletown

 (Xenia, OH) Mark A. McDonnell, Health Commissioner, Greene County Combined Health District announced the results of recent tobacco sales compliance checks conducted in Greene, Clinton, Fayette Counties and the Cities of Hamilton and Middletown.

With the passing of Ohio Senate Bill 218, it is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to possess, use or purchase tobacco products.  It is also illegal for anyone to sell tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 (Ohio Revised Code section 2927.02).  As a local leader in tobacco education and prevention, the Health District regularly conducts tobacco sales compliance checks throughout the region to monitor the illegal sale of tobacco to youth.    

The Health District, in conjunction with the Tobacco-Free Healthy Communities Coalition, conducted the following tobacco sales compliance checks: 

 ·        Saturday, March 29, 2003, 12 youth volunteers conducted the checks in Clinton and Fayette Counties.  65 tobacco outlets were visited and 22 tobacco items were purchased by the teens, representing a 34% non-compliant rate.

  ·        Saturday, April 26, 2003, 14 youth volunteers conducted the checks in the Cities of Hamilton and Middletown in Butler County.  48 tobacco vendor outlets were visited and 25 tobacco items were purchased by the teens, representing a 52% non-compliant rate.  

 ·        Saturday, May 10, 2003, 4 youth volunteers conducted the checks in Warren County.  35 tobacco vendor outlets were visited and 9 tobacco items were purchased by the teens, representing a 26% non-compliant rate.  

 The state of Ohio’s non-compliant rate is 22%.

The leading cause of death in the United States, tobacco kills nearly 20,000 Ohioans each year. In addition, an estimated 314,000 Ohio children currently under the age of 18 will die from premature tobacco use. The negative health effects that result from this level of tobacco use lead to excessive health care and taxpayer costs and a diminished quality of life for the millions of Ohioans addicted to tobacco products.

For more information, contact Greene County Combined Health District, Director of Health Education, Sara T. Pappa, at (937) 374-5600 or toll-free at 1-866-858-3588.

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