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A.G. & CONOCOPHILLIPS AGREE TO HELP STOP TEEN TOBACCO SALES
Attorney General Mark Shurtleff announced today that ConocoPhillips Company has joined a growing list of companies that have agreed to measures to prevent teens from buying cigarettes. ConocoPhillips is one of the nation's largest oil companies. The agreement includes 40 states and 10,463 company-owned outlets and franchises, including, 15 stores owned and operated by ConocoPhillips and 311 stores that are operated by franchisees here in Utah.
"This agreement will make it harder for teens to get tobacco and keep them from killing themselves with this destructive habit. ConocoPhillips should be commended for doing the right thing," says Shurtleff.
Under the accord, ConocoPhillips will require all outlets to take certain measures to stop young people from purchasing tobacco, including:
- Training store clerks to prevent underage tobacco sales and requiring them to check photo I.D.'s for anyone under the age of 35
- Using security cameras and random compliance checks to monitor tobacco sales.
- Limiting in-store advertising and banning self-service tobacco sales.
Outlets that fail to follow these measures can jeopardize their right to use company trademarks. ConocoPhillips is the eighth retailer to sign on to this type of multi-state agreement. Previous agreements cover all Wal-Mart, Walgreens, Rite Aid and 7-Eleven stores, and all gas stations and convenience stores using the Exxon, Mobil, BP, ARCO and Amoco brand names in the signing states.
Studies indicate that 47% of youth who report buying cigarettes identify gas stations as their primary point of purchase---another 27% identify convenience stores. The research also shows that more than 2,000 Americans under the age of 18 begin smoking every day and a third of them will eventually die from a tobacco-related disease.
Assistant Attorneys General Kathy Kinsman represented Utah in this agreement. The Utah Attorney General's Office enforces state and federal tobacco laws and the national Master Settlement Agreement that was reached with the major tobacco companies in 1998.
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