CVS, states strike deal over tobacco sales to minors

Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch announced Wednesday that he has joined the attorneys general of 42 other states and the District of Columbia in an agreement with CVS/pharmacy Inc. under which the nation’s largest drugstore chain, based in Woonsocket, will implement new procedures to reduce sales of cigarettes to minors at its more than 5,400 retail stores in 34 states and Washington, DC.

The agreement requires that CVS abide by the following at all of its retail stores:

— Check the identification of any person purchasing tobacco products when the person appears to be under the age of 27, and accept only a valid government-issued photo ID as proof of age.

— Prohibit self-service displays of tobacco products, the use of vending machines to sell tobacco products, distribution of free samples, sale of cigarette look-alike products, and the sale of smoking paraphernalia to minors.

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— Hire an independent entity to conduct random compliance checks of 1,361 CVS stores annually in the signing states.

— Limit tobacco signage to brand names, logos, other trademarks and pricing, and ensure that all tobacco advertising inside the store is confined to the area where tobacco products are sold.

— Train employees on state and local laws and company policies regarding tobacco sales to minors, including explaining the health-related reasons for laws that restrict youth access to tobacco.

The CVS “Assurance of Voluntary Compliance” (AVC) is the eighth such agreement produced by an ongoing, multi-state effort. Previous agreements cover all 7-Eleven, Wal-Mart, Walgreens and Rite Aid stores, and all gas stations and convenience stores operating under the Conoco, Phillips 66 or 76, Exxon, Mobil, BP, Amoc and ARCO brand names, in the signing states.

Combined, the agreements apply to more than 60,000 retail outlets across the nation.

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