ROSS COUNTY, Ohio — Local law enforcement and the Ohio Investigative Unit have joined forces to tackle the problem of underage tobacco purchases in the county. A total of 21 locations were targeted for compliance checks, with officials identifying four outlets selling tobacco products to those underage.
Two of the stores that were caught, and the employees issued criminal citations, were the Sunoco gas station on Western Avenue and the TikTok Smoke Shop on North Bridge Street. The Huntsman Market at Blain Highway and Route 772, which is in close proximity to local schools, was also cited for selling tobacco products to underage individuals.
The name of the fourth business was not released by authorities.
The checks were part of a joint operation to crack down on the sale of tobacco products to minors in the county. The authorities have been working hard to ensure that retailers are complying with the state’s tobacco laws, which prohibit the sale of tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21.
Under Ohio law, retailers can face criminal charges for selling tobacco products to minors. The authorities are urging all retailers to check identification and comply with state law to help keep tobacco out of the hands of minors. The joint operation is expected to continue to target non-compliant stores throughout the county.
