Tobacco Compliance Program Releases 2017 Results for Garrett County

The Garrett County Health Department staff is pleased to announce that the tobacco compliance rate for Garrett County retail merchants in fiscal year 2017 is 96%.  Garrett County Sheriff’s deputies, health department staff, and underage buyers conducted 108 visits to the 44 tobacco licensees, resulting in only four sales of tobacco to an underage buyer.

“The Garrett County Tobacco Compliance Program is designed to prevent illegal tobacco sales to minors through ongoing compliance checks conducted in partnership with the Garrett County Sheriff’s Office,” said Mike Wilburn, Health Educator at the Garrett County Health Department. “Our goal is 100% compliance for tobacco licensees, and we commend all the county merchants who are obeying the law.”

The health department has been participating in tobacco compliance checks for 15 years.  Maryland state law says that a person may not sell, give or distribute any tobacco product to someone below the age of 18 years.  Merchants that have a tobacco license are required to ensure that the person they sell tobacco to is at least 18 years old.

This year’s compliance checks were funded by the Maryland Cigarette Restitution Fund Program.  The program is expected to be funded again for the upcoming fiscal year. All local businesses selling tobacco are subject to these checks.  For more information about this program call the Garrett County Health Department at 301-334-7730 or 301-895-3111.