London, ON – The Middlesex-London Health Unit has issued Automatic Prohibition notices to three local tobacco retailers, which have been convicted at least twice of selling tobacco products to persons under the age of 19. The orders against these London tobacco retailers will remain in effect for six months starting August 19, 2013 and ending on February 19, 2014. The prohibition orders are issued by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and forbid the the operators from selling or storing any form of tobacco in their stores.

The stores under prohibition are Maple Leaf Gas on Adelaide Street South, Daisy Mart on Ernest Avenue and Real Canadian Superstore (Holy Smokes) on Oxford Street East.

"The restrictions that are in place to prevent youth from having access to tobacco are key components of the Smoke-Free Ontario Act and the penalties for not complying can be severe,” says Linda Stobo, Chronic Disease Prevention and Tobacco Control Manager with the Middlesex-London Health Unit. “Restricting teens’ access to tobacco products is an important strategy to reduce youth experimentation and uptake of tobacco use”.

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 for identification.

The Middlesex-London Health Unit conducts regular compliance inspections of all establishments that sell tobacco in the City of London and the County of Middlesex. Charges are laid against store employees and/or retailers found to be selling tobacco products to anyone under the age of 19. After two or more convictions within a five-year period, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care issues an Automatic Prohibition Order. The operator must also post signs in the store notifying the public of the prohibition.

This approach is having a positive impact. Smoking rates for Canadian youth aged 18 to 19, have dropped from 23.5% in 2003, to 13% in 2009.

To assist local retailers in the effort to comply with the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, Health Unit staff visits all tobacco retailers, providing information on the law. Retailers are also educated as to their responsibilities under the Act at workshops organized by the Health Unit. The next workshops will be held September 19th and 26th. Retailers can register for the workshops by calling the Tobacco Information Line at 519-663-5317 ext. 2673.

Media Contact:
Dan Flaherty, Communications Manager, Middlesex-London Health Unit, 519-663-5317 extension 2469 or 519-617-0570 (cell)

Spokesperson:
Linda Stobo, Program Manager, Chronic Disease Prevention and Tobacco Control, Middlesex-London Health Unit