Safeway Sued for Selling Cigarettes to Minors

Summary

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[Bill Lockyer] filed the complaint jointly with Los Angeles City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo. "Anyone who sells tobacco to minors is committing a crime and jeopardizes the health and safety of our children," said Delgadillo. "This lawsuits sends a strong message that retailers must take responsibility for keeping tobacco away from children or face serious consequences."

Undercover inspections by state health officials showed that, through March 2004, the Safeway, Inc. stores sold tobacco products to minors in 29.8 percent of the cases. In 2003, the violation rate was even higher, at 42.1 percent. Safeway Inc.'s sales-to-minors rate is the highest of four major grocery chains--including Ralphs, Albertsons and Raley's--that underwent the inspections conducted by the state Department of Health Services.

Despite being notified of the illegal sales, Safeway Inc. has done little to correct the problem, the complaint alleges. "The People have documented that Safeway has sold cigarettes to children in California in violation of state law on numerous occasions," the complaint states. "Notwithstanding the fact that Safeway has been repeatedly notified of said sales to minors, defendant has not taken adequate precautions to ensure that children cannot purchase cigarettes from its stores."

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Safeway Sued for Selling Cigarettes to Minors

Attorney General Bill Lockyer filed suit recently against Safeway, Inc. for selling tobacco products to minors and failing to take adequate steps to prevent such sales at its Safeway, Vons, Pavilions and Pak N' Save stores.

"While we have made pr...

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