Online smoke sales to minors targeted

NAMPA, Idaho — State health officials will begin targeting online tobacco sellers to stop underage teenagers from buying cigarettes over the Internet.

Officials said the problem is underscored by a study released this month by the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. The study found that four teens succeeded in buying cigarettes online 76 times out of 83 attempts — about 92 percent.

But lawmakers hope House Bill 357, which was passed during the 2003 Legislative session, will reverse that.

The legislation requires all tobacco sellers register with the state, report how much tobacco they sell and to whom, pay taxes on all tobacco sales — including Internet and mail-order sales — and advertise that they will not sell to minors.

Though most of the vendors involved in the North Carolina-Chapel Hill study warned customers that they would not sell to minors, only four blocked sales when the teens failed to show proof that they were over 18.

The bill also requires that packages containing tobacco products be clearly labeled so shipping companies can avoid delivering to minors. If shippers fail to make sure their customer is not a minor they could be subject to fines.

Terry Pappin, of the state's Tobacco Prevention Project, said the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare will likely begin enforcing the new provisions at the beginning of next year.