Chevron fights teen smoking

Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff said Friday that Utah has joined 26 other states in an agreement with Chevron to help stop tobacco sales to teens at Chevron and Texaco service stations.

"The momentum keeps building to keep kids from cigarettes and a lifetime of health problems," Shurtleff said in a written statement. "Chevron should be commended for joining the growing list of retailers who care about children."

Chevron is one of the nation's largest oil companies, with approximately 9,100 retail outlets in 32 states and 211 Chevron and Texaco stations in Utah. Chevron will assume exclusive rights to the Texaco brand July 1.

According to the "Assurance of Voluntary Compliance" agreement, Chevron has agreed to issue annual notices about complying with youth access laws. The company also will require franchises to report violations to the corporate office and modify franchise agreements to include termination or non-renewal of a franchise if youth access laws are violated.

Previous companies that have signed such agreements include 7-Eleven, CVS, Wal-Mart, Walgreens and Rite Aid stores. Convenience stores operating under Conoco, Phillips 66 or 76, Exxon, Mobil, BP, Amoco and ARCO have also signed on.

To date, voluntary compliance agreements cover about 70,000 retail outlets across the nation.