Swampscott officials breathe sigh of relief over tobacco sting

SWAMPSCOTT – None of the licensed tobacco vendors in town sold to minors during a sting operation earlier this month.Swampscott Public Health Director Jeff Vaughan said his department is pleased there were no violations.”We’re very pleased,” he said. “We’re glad that the establishments are complying because we have serious concern about tobacco usage among young people.”On Dec. 2, the North Shore Tobacco Control Program performed a compliance check in the town by sending two under-aged youths into the various businesses to buy tobacco.”No violations for sale of tobacco to a minor occurred,” Vaughan said.The results this year are very different from December 2007 when four establishments in town were cited for selling cigarettes to minors in a similar sting.The North Shore Tobacco Control Coalition, which is based in Lynn, conducts sting operations in North Shore communities and last year C&L Package Store and Vinnin Square Liquors were both cited and it was the third violation for both. Fiory’s 2 on Essex Street and Chuckie’s Lucky Mart on Railroad Avenue were also cited for selling tobacco to minors during that sting operation.According to Joyce Redford of the NSTCP, a first offense is a $100 fine, it is $200 for a second offense and a $300 fine and suspension of license to sell tobacco products for subsequent offenses.