Department of Health Services

Sacramento, CA – The rate of illegal tobacco sales to minors in Sacramento County is 11%, according to a survey conducted by the Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Public Health.
 
The Division of Public Health’s Tobacco Education Program conducted its annual Youth Purchase Survey in December of 2012 by sending underage student volunteers and adult chaperones to all stores known to sell tobacco products in the cities of Folsom, Citrus Heights, Galt and Isleton as well as a random sampling of stores in the unincorporated county.

Of the 172 stores surveyed, 19 stores sold tobacco products to minors for a sales rate of 11%. Of the areas surveyed:

• The City of Folsom had the highest sales rate at 26.7%, with 8 out of the 30 stores surveyed selling tobacco
   products to youth;
• The City of Citrus Heights had a sales rate of 13%, with 6 out of the 46 stores surveyed selling tobacco
   products to youth;
• The City of Galt had a sales rate of 7.7%, with 1 out of 13 stores surveyed selling tobacco products to youth;
• The unincorporated area of Sacramento County had a sales rate of 5%, with 4 out of 80 stores surveyed
   selling tobacco products to youth;
• The City of Isleton had a sales rate of 0%; with 0 out of 3 stores surveyed selling tobacco products to youth.

The unincorporated area of Sacramento County has a Tobacco Retail License (TRL) ordinance, while the Cities of Folsom, Citrus Heights, Galt, and Isleton do not. Three out of the four jurisdictions without a TRL had higher sale rates to minors than the unincorporated county.
 
Stores in 100% compliance with tobacco laws received a certificate of recognition. Owners of stores selling tobacco products to minors were encouraged to work with and educate their employees to prevent future sales to underage youth.