Four East Putnam Avenue businesses drew six violations for selling tobacco or alcohol to underage buyers during unannounced compliance checks Monday, Sept. 14, Greenwich police said.
The department's Community Impact Section, working with the Greenwich Together Prevention Council, inspected 19 retailers that sell tobacco, e-cigarettes or alcohol, according to a Greenwich Police Department Facebook post. Four of nine tobacco checks and two of 10 alcohol checks ended in citations.
Connecticut law bars the sale of all three product categories to anyone under 21.
Tobacco violations:
- Mobil Gas Station, 520 East Putnam Ave.
- Mobil Gas Station, 1129 East Putnam Ave.
- Mohegan Vape & Cigar, 1255 East Putnam Ave.
- Shell Gas Station, 1429 East Putnam Ave.
Alcohol violations:
- Mobil Gas Station, 1129 East Putnam Ave.
- Shell Gas Station, 1429 East Putnam Ave.
The Mobil station at 1129 East Putnam Ave. and the Shell station at 1429 East Putnam Ave. were each cited in both categories.
The checks are part of a joint effort between the department and Greenwich Together to curb youth access to tobacco, vaping products and alcohol, police said. After the inspections, officers reminded retailers and employees to verify customer identification and follow state law.
The department said preventing underage access requires a continued partnership among businesses, parents, prevention organizations, law enforcement and the community.
Greenwich Together, the town's prevention council, is co-chaired by Police Chief Jim Heavey and Department of Human Services Commissioner Demetria Nelson, according to Kids In Crisis, which administers the council. The council works to prevent substance misuse and promote youth behavioral health.
Police did not announce what penalties the cited businesses face or whether follow-up inspections are planned.
