The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit says it's issued an automatic prohibition notice to a Windsor convenience store after it was repeatedly caught selling cigarettes to minors.
The prohibition order against Rivard Convenience on Rivard Ave. was issued by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. It forbids the operator from selling or storing tobacco in their store for nine months. The operator will also have to display signs in the store notifying the public of the prohibition.
"These restrictions are in place to protect our youth," says Manager of Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention at the health unit, Eric Nadalin. "Tobacco retailers are continually advised and educated about their requirement to restrict youth access to tobacco products."
Retailers are supposed to ask anyone who appears under the age of 25 for identification before selling them tobacco products because it's illegal in Ontario to sell tobacco to anyone under 19.
The health unit conducts regular checks of all establishments that sell tobacco.