Newtown Police Department, working with the State of Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) Tobacco Prevention and Enforcement Program, recently conducted unannounced compliance inspections of Newtown establishments that sell tobacco products and/or electronic cigarettes.

The inspections were performed in an effort to determine compliance with state laws concerning the prohibition of the sale of e-cigarettes and/or tobacco products to youths under the age of 21.

Retailers are required by state law to inspect the photo identification of anyone who appears to be under the age of 30 years old before selling a tobacco product or electronic cigarette.

A total of 21 unannounced compliance inspections were conducted. Of this total, two establishments were found non-compliant with Connecticut General Statutes 53-344 (Sale of tobacco to a person under 21) or 53-344b (Sale of an e-cigarette to a person under 21). The offending clerks at the following establishments were issued a first-time infraction in the amount of $300.

The two establishments were Wheels Gas Station, at 47 Church Hill Road; and Citgo Gas Station, 131 Mount Pleasant Road.

The following establishments were found to be in compliance:

Brand Cigars, located at 266 South Main Street;

Bottle Stop Wine and Spirits, 5 Queen Street;

Caraluzzi’s Newtown Market, 5 Queen Street;

Cork n’ Barrel, located at 266 South Main Street;

Fairground Wine and Spirits, 228 South Main Street;

Hawleyville Sunoco, 26 Hawleyville Road;

Hawleyville Wine and Liquor, 23 Barnabas Road;

Mobil Gas Station, 62 Church Hill Road;

Newtown Convenience, 22 Church Hill Road;

Newtown Wine and Spirits, 113 South Main Street;

Oak Barrel Wine and Spirits, 73 Church Hill Road;

Sayed Ibrahim Smoke Shop, 71 South Main Street;

Shell Gas Station, 286 South Main Street;

Stop and Shop, located at 228 South Main Street;

Taunton Wine and Liquor, 147 Mount Pleasant Road;

Wheels Convenience Store, 67 Church Hill Road;

Wheels Gas Station, 151 South Main Street;

Walgreens, 49 South Main Street; and

Yankee Wine and Spirits, 6 Queen Street.