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ATTORNEY GENERAL SUTHERS ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT WITH
7-ELEVEN TO CURB TOBACCO SALES TO MINORS
Fourth Multi-State Agreement with Major Retailer Covers 229
Colorado Stores
(DENVER) – Attorney General John Suthers today announced an agreement with
7-Eleven, Inc. requiring the nation’s largest seller of tobacco products to
implement new procedures to prevent sales to minors at its 229 Colorado stores
and 5,702 outlets in 40 other states and Washington, D.C.
“Every day more than 2,000 minors pick up a cigarette for the first time,” said
Attorney General Suthers. “By entering into this agreement, 7-Eleven
demonstrates their commitment to reducing the number of children exposed to
cigarettes and other tobacco products.”
The 7 Eleven "Assurance of Voluntary Compliance" (AVC) is the fourth agreement
produced by an ongoing, multi state enforcement effort involving Colorado.
Previous agreements cover Wal Mart, Walgreens, and all gas stations and
convenience stores operating under the BP Amoco brand name. These agreements
provide measures to reduce sales of tobacco products to minors by the nation’s
top retail chain (Wal Mart), number one drug store chain (Walgreens), and
biggest retailer of tobacco products (7 Eleven).
Launched in 2000, the multi state enforcement effort targets retailers with poor
records of tobacco sales to minors. Despite state laws that prohibit sales to
minors, undercover inspections indicated that minors were able to buy tobacco
products at 7-Eleven stores in several states.
The enforcement program’s goal is to secure the companies’ agreement to take
specific corrective actions. The agreements incorporate "best practices,"
developed by the Attorneys General in consultation with researchers and state
and federal tobacco control officials, to prevent tobacco sales to minors.
The agreement, effective immediately, requires that 7 Eleven do the following at
all company owned stores:
• Check the ID of any person purchasing tobacco products when the person appears
to be under the age of 27, and accept only 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.
• Hire an independent entity to conduct random compliance checks of 900 7 Eleven
stores annually in the signing states.
• Restrict in store advertising of tobacco products adjacent to products popular
with minors and outdoor and outward facing advertising within 500 feet of
schools and playgrounds.
• 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.
7 Eleven will also take steps to effect compliance by its franchisees with the
provisions of the agreement and state laws concerning tobacco products.
Attorney General Suthers has long recognized that youth access to tobacco
products ranks among the most serious public health problems. Studies show more
than 80 percent of adult smokers begin smoking before the age of 18. Research
indicates that every day in the United States, more than 2,000 people under the
age of 18 start smoking and that one third of those persons ultimately will die
from a tobacco related disease. Young people are particularly susceptible to the
hazards of tobacco, often showing signs of addiction after smoking only a few
cigarettes.
A copy of the AVC is available on the Attorney General’s web site at
http://www.ago.state.co.us.
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