A local lady claims that her 14-year-old grandson purchased a nicotine vape from a vape shop. She called the police, but she was told they were powerless to help.
At that point, the grandma contacted Hunter Sáenz of Channel 9, who discovered that supplying tobacco to minors is a more serious issue than you might have imagined.
As a loving grandma, Dianne Steele was shocked and concerned to see her 14-year-old grandson using a vape pen that contained nicotine.
“I understand that 14-year-old kids are going to experiment and stuff,” she stated.
However, she informed Sáenz that she was upset about learning how he obtained it. Ultimately, her grandson admitted that he had been sold a vape product when he and a buddy visited T&M Smoke Shop. Their claims that they were never questioned for identification—both of them were minors—present the only issue.
The legal age to purchase vape products in North Carolina is 18. Infuriated, Steele stopped by the store.
“I asked him, I said, ‘Do y’all make it a practice here to sell to underage kids?’ He said, ‘Of course not.’ I said, ‘Well, you did!'”
She then gave the Lincolnton Police Department a call. After visiting the smoking store, the officers made a police report. The Lincolnton officers Department stated that local officers are unable to enforce such laws, which is the sole issue.
“That really blew my mind! That’s why I called you guys,” Steele stated.
It turns out that the Food and Drug Administration and the state’s Alcohol Law Enforcement, or ALE, are in charge of keeping an eye on and enforcing the law at tobacco stores.
Sáenz downloaded information from the FDA website. It claims that fifteen establishments in Lincolnton alone have been found to be selling tobacco goods to minors within the past few years. T&M Smoke Shop was issued a warning letter and is included on the list.
“It just says to me that the dollar means more to those people than somebody’s health,” Steele stated.
Sáenz visited the shop to acquire their perspective. He discovered a man who claimed to be fifteen behind the counter. Off-camera, an employee told Sáenz he thought the person in question was 21 and that he had seen identification.
In an off-camera interview with Sáenz, the proprietor of T&M Smoke Shop stated that they take these issues seriously. He claims he saw identification proving the customer was twenty-one.
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According to him, when this occurs frequently, kids pay a 21-year-old to enter the store and make a purchase on their behalf. He expressed his belief that Steele’s grandson experienced the same thing.
According to Steele, she wants things changed to better safeguard kids.
“I want them to know that people really do care about these kids and what they do, and I want them to take responsibility for what is happening,” she stated.
According to Dianne Steele, local law enforcement would be more appropriate for enforcing such laws.
According to the FDA, 182 tobacco retailers in Charlotte sold to minors during the previous few years. Most received warning letters, but others received citations.
