Gwen Rummell Reporting –
The Tuscarawas County Health Department (TCHD) joined the Tuscarawas County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) and Empower Tusc to complete 54 compliance checks at tobacco retailers across the county.
The compliance checks ensure that tobacco retailers were following the Tobacco 21 law, which makes it illegal for retailers to sell tobacco or nicotine products to anyone under the age of 21.
TCHD Public Health Educator and Tobacco Grant Coordinator, Katelyn Gorius, says raising the age has benefits other than preventing illnesses associated with smoking.
“Tobacco 21 went into place in 2019 in the state of Ohio. Before that, you just had to be 18 to purchase a tobacco product. The age to purchase was raised because on average, if people start smoking later, they have a less chance of actually starting.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, each year, nearly half a million Americans die prematurely due to illnesses caused by smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke.
During the compliance checks, it was found that 47 of the 54 retailers passed, with two retailers found to not have any in-stock tobacco products during the check.
Gorius adds that a 90% compliance rate is a great score, but she would prefer it to be higher.
“Doing these compliance checks is a great way for the Tuscarawas County Health Department and the Tuscarawas County Sheriff’s Office, as well as Empower Tusc, to get our names out there – to show our community efforts. We are doing this to keep all youth in Tuscarawas County safe and to hold all tobacco retailors accountable for following Tobacco 21.”
If individuals or tobacco retailors want to learn more about Tobacco 21, they can call Katelyn Gorius at 330-343-5555 extension 1860.
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