Two Infractions Issued For Underage Tobacco Sales

During a recent tobacco sting operation conducted at local businesses that sell cigarettes and tobacco products, sales clerks at two outlets illegally sold tobacco to an underage undercover agent, police said.

On January 19, town police joined forces with state Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) officials in visiting 22 local businesses that sell tobacco, in seeking to have an underage undercover agent make illegal purchases, police said.

 The undercover agent is under age 18; the minimum legal age to buy tobacco products in Connecticut is 18.

The sales clerks at each of the two businesses who sold the tobacco to the agent received an infraction ticket for illegal sale of tobacco to a person under age 18. Those tickets carry a $200 fine. Such fines are appealable in court.

At 100 Church Hill, which is a bar/restaurant at 100 Church Hill Road in Sandy Hook Center, sales clerk Lauren Albaitis, 21, no address given, illegally sold the tobacco, police said.

At Sugar Hill Exxon, which is a gas station/convenience store at 153 Sugar Street, sales clerk Danielle Burr, 27, no address given, illegally sold the tobacco, police said.

Also, the holders of the cigarette dealer licenses at each of the two offending businesses face administrative penalties from the state Department of Revenue Services (DRS), police said.

Police occasionally conduct such sting operations which focus on illegal underage tobacco sales and alcohol sales.