Eight Renton retailers were among the 92 retailers in King County that sold tobacco products to minors Jan. 1-Dec. 5, an illegal sales rate of more than 8 percent, according to Public Health – Seattle and King County.
The eight retailers are: Sunset Smoke, 2822 N.E. Sunset Blvd.; Chevron station, 1419 N. 30th St.; the 7-Eleven store, 404 Sunset Blvd. N.; Tienda Mi Familia, 206 Wells Ave. S.; 7-Eleven store, 17615 108th Ave. S.E.; Highlands Food Mart, 1190 N.E. Sunset Blvd.; Kennydale Fuel, 1616 N.E. 30th St., and Safeway Fuel, 4300 N.E. 4th St.
The increase reflects a drop from the 12 percent rate in 2011, but elevated from the 6 percent average from 2006-2010. Statewide, tobacco sales to minors are at a 10-year high at 16 percent.
In Washington state, selling tobacco to a minor is prohibited by law, with a $100 fine and tobacco education for the retailer and a $50 fine for the clerk making the sale.
