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7-Eleven Signs Up to Cut Tobacco Access to Minors

Posted on: Monday, 15 August 2005, 18:00 CDT

Aug. 12--Oklahoma and the 7-Eleven Inc. convenience store chain, the biggest retailer of tobacco products, have signed an agreement designed to reduce tobacco access to minors, the state attorney general's office announced Thursday.

Oklahoma and 40 other states and jurisdictions are part of the agreement, the result of a cooperative effort between 7-Eleven and the attorneys general. It is part of an effort by attorneys general to enforce laws against selling tobacco to minors by working with national retailers and gasoline companies that sell tobacco products.

Previous agreements have been reached with all Wal-Mart, Walgreens and Rite Aid stores, as well as all gasoline stations and convenience stores operating under the Exxon, Mobil, BP, ARCO and Amoco brand names.

In Oklahoma, 7-Eleven licenses more than 100 stores.

"Underage access to tobacco products is a serious problem," Attorney General Drew Edmondson said. "Youth smoking was at the heart of our lawsuit against big tobacco, and this agreement requires the company to adopt a variety of practices and policies designed to reduce or eliminate underage tobacco sales."

Tracey Strader, executive director for the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust, said the agreement is a step in the right direction.

"The problem of youth tobacco use has many causes and requires a variety of solutions and involvement by businesses and individuals and organizations in our communities," she said. "This is one step in that comprehensive approach to reducing tobacco use."

"This agreement is important in the battle to stop Oklahoma kids from using tobacco products," Edmondson said in a statement. "I commend 7-Eleven for taking these steps."

Edmondson's office has been participating in a series of talks with other companies that sell tobacco products about ways to reduce youth access to tobacco. Discussions are proceeding with several companies, Edmondson said.

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Source: The Daily Oklahoman

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