Four Amherst businesses are under fire following confirmed reports of selling restricted products to underage customers.
According to a news release from the Amherst Police Department, on March 24, its officers conducted an underage alcohol and tobacco compliance operation using a confidential 18-year-old informant.
The purpose of compliance operations is to evaluate the extent to which retail outlets sell to those who are younger than 21, according to the release.
Reviewing 14 locations for alcohol compliance, Amherst police found Sheetz, 799 N. Leavitt Road, in violation of selling products to the underage confidential informant, the release said.
The Police Department checked three other establishments in the Amherst area for compliance in selling tobacco products to underage customers and found all three in violation, according to the release.
Planet of the Vapes, 933 N. Leavitt Road; Galactic Tobacco & Vape, 2219 Kresge Drive; and Cloud 9 Vape & Smoke Shop, 7582 Leavitt Road, sold tobacco products to the underage confidential informant, the release said.
“The Amherst Police Department, in partnership with our schools, are concerned with the use of tobacco products by those under age,” said Amherst police Detective Sgt. Brian Griffin. “It is always extremely important to check the age and identity of a customer when selling alcohol and tobacco products.”
Employees responsible for selling the products were charged accordingly with illegal distribution of tobacco products, a fourth-degree misdemeanor, or sales to underage persons, a first-degree misdemeanor, the release said.
The Amherst Police Department also has seen recent activity in the Amherst Schools with underage tobacco use, primarily vape products, in the junior and high schools, according to the release.
