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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Eye On Olympia

Paying to police itself…

The nation's largest seller of tobacco products -- 7-eleven, Inc. -- has agreed to new procedures aimed at cutting tobacco sales to minors.

"The fewer kids who start smoking, the fewer who will eventually die from smoking-related illnesses," said Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna.

The 7-Eleven agreement is the seventh inked between retailers and a 32-state enforcement group. They include: Wal-Mart, Walgreens, Rite Aid and gas stations operating under the Exxon, Mobil, BP ARCO and Amoco brands.

According to McKenna, 7-Eleven agred to:
-check the ID of anyone who looks like he or she is under 27,
-prohibit the use of vending machines, self-serve advertising displays, free samples or the sale of cigarette lookalike products,
-and to hire an independent group to conduct random compliance checks of the 900 stores in the states that signed the deal.


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