Attorney General Corbett Announces Multi-State Agreement With Valero to Curb Tobacco Sales to Minors

HARRISBURG, Pa., April 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Pennsylvania, along with 37 other states and the District of Columbia, has reached an agreement with Valero, one of the nation's largest gas station chains, that they will adopt procedures designed to reduce sales of cigarettes to minors.  

Attorney General Tom Corbett said that Valero owns 1,000 convenience store outlets and has nearly 4,000 franchise outlets under brands including Valero, Beacon, Diamond, Shamrock, Ultramar, Corner Store, and Stop N Go.  There are about 100 franchisees and no company owned stores in Pennsylvania.  

According to the agreement, Valero will provide franchisees with information about health concerns associated with youth tobacco use, instruct clerks to check I.D. for all tobacco customers who appear to be under the age of 27, use security videotapes to monitor compliance by clerks, perform random compliance checks and implement many other safeguards.

"Studies show that state tobacco control programs are effective at cutting the number of smokers," Corbett said.  "By requiring companies to comply with the law and limiting access to cigarettes, we help stop kids from smoking."

Corbett commended Valero for participating in this agreement and noted that this is just one of a number of such agreements produced by an ongoing, multi-state enforcement effort. Previous agreements cover Shell, 7-Eleven, CVS, Turkey Hill, Walgreens and Rite Aid stores, and all gas stations and convenience stores operating under the Exxon, Mobil and Chevron brand names, in the signing states.

"Tobacco use remains this country's leading preventable cause of death," Corbett said.  "And because nicotine addiction and smoking-related diseases cost our state's health care system an additional $5.19 billion annually, every child that doesn't become a smoker is a health victory, both for the child and for the state."  

In addition to Pennsylvania, this agreement includes Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wyoming and the District of Columbia.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For a copy of the agreement, contact the Attorney General's press office at 717-787-5211.

CONTACT: Eric Shirk, Assistant Press Secretary, 717-787-5211, (Cell) 717-480-0224, [email protected]

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General

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