Recently the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) ran an underage vape operation in Greeneville, checking 22 stores. Of those 22 stores, six allegedly sold vape products to an informant aged between 18 and 20 years old, who are employed by the commission to run these checks.
The six stores:
- Citgo, 812 W. Church St.
- 007 Tabacco, 711 Asheville Hwy
- Golds Tobacco and Vapor, 619 Asheville Hwy
- Exotic Kings Smoke Shop, 2590 E. Andrew Johnson Hwy
- Gold 2 Tobacco and Vape, 3165 E. Andrew Johnson Hwy
- X-Factor Smoke and Vape, 4765 E. Andrew Johnson Hwy
News 5 visited five of the six stores – asking to speak with an owner or a manager.
We were able to speak with one store manager at Exotic Kings Smoke Shop. When asked if the store sold to underage customers, the manager replied: “No.”
According to the commission’s data, an employee at Exotic Kings Smoke Shop checked the informants I-D but still allegedly sold the product.
State Representative David Hawk who represents Greene County, has continued to push for increased regulation for these retailers even sponsoring the general assembly’s latest regulatory bill, which went into effect on July 1.
Among several things, the bill granted the TABC the authority to make these checks.
“We’re seeing it as young as 6th, 7th and 8th gradetalk to so many adults who say ‘I wish I’d never started smoking. I wish I’d never started vaping’ so we’re trying to cut that off at a young age before these addictions ever begin,” Hawk said.
Stores on this list that allegedly sold to a minor are innocent until they are proven guilty. According to the law, a retailer who sells a vape product to anyone under twenty-one is subject to a fine of $2,000. If the business is found guilty for a second time, the fine is $20,000 and could face a loss of licensure.
These checks could just be the beginning in Tennessee as the commission is expected to conduct 2,500 checks per year moving forward.
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