USA Today this morning reports that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is accusing a number of retailers - including Walgreen, Walmart, Family Dollar, Kroger and Circle K, as well as a number of gas stations - of selling tobacco products to minors, saying that it is considering “enforcement avenues to address high rates of violations.”
The piece says that “the FDA said it also sent letters to more than 40 companies that may be illegally marketing certain tobacco products or e-cigarettes. Federal regulators are concerned about increased nicotine vaping among teens, which can lead to cigarette smoking. Tobacco use is a major cause of cancer and other health problems.”
According to the story, the FDA expressed specific concerns about Walgreens, saying it has a "disturbing" record, particularly because “the company positions itself as a health-and-wellness-minded business.”
Walgreen responded to the accusations by saying that it is happy to work with the FDA, and that it has a “zero tolerance” policy on tobacco sales to minors.
The piece says that “the FDA said it also sent letters to more than 40 companies that may be illegally marketing certain tobacco products or e-cigarettes. Federal regulators are concerned about increased nicotine vaping among teens, which can lead to cigarette smoking. Tobacco use is a major cause of cancer and other health problems.”
According to the story, the FDA expressed specific concerns about Walgreens, saying it has a "disturbing" record, particularly because “the company positions itself as a health-and-wellness-minded business.”
Walgreen responded to the accusations by saying that it is happy to work with the FDA, and that it has a “zero tolerance” policy on tobacco sales to minors.
- KC's View:
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No sympathy here for Walgreens, which, based on its history, really seems to have a zero tolerance for being caught.
I hope the “enforcement avenues” are swift and severe.
