Underage tobacco sales down locally

Fewer Santa Barbara County retailers sold tobacco to youths this year, but results of the undercover operation still put the area above the statewide average of 5.4 percent. Of 341 retailers visited, 12 percent, or 42 stores, sold cigarettes to an underage decoy, according to results from the joint operation between the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department, law enforcement and youth-serving agencies. The county percentage is more than double the state average, but a decrease from last year’s 17 percent.

“The results were encouraging in the county area,” said Dawn Dunn, program administrator of the county’s Tobacco Prevention Settlement Program. “Sales rates appear to be on the decline. Compared to state, it’s a little troubling.” As in past surveys, sales to teenage decoys varied throughout the county from 3 percent in Santa Maria (two of 79 retailers) and Lompoc (one of 33) to 39 percent in Goleta (12 of 31). Dunn said Goleta’s illegal sales rate was alarmingly high. “Rates near 40 percent are quite out of the norm,” she said.

This year’s illegal sales rates were the highest they’ve ever been in Goleta, Guadalupe and Carpinteria. Guadalupe’s rate for 2012 was 29 percent, or two of seven retailers, and Carpinteria decoys were successful 26 percent of the time, or in five of 19 stores. Cities that had no underage sales last year — Solvang and Buellton — saw significant increases as well. Solvang’s rate was 29 percent, or two of seven, and Buellton clocked in at 17 percent, or two of 12. Lompoc showed a significant improvement, falling from 31 percent (9 of 29) last year to 3 percent in 2012. Dunn said the best way to look at the data is to compare rates to last year and to keep in mind that some cities have more retailers than others.

“Each city obviously has its unique circumstances,” Dunn said. “We cannot control for all of the variables. These figures are a snapshot of a moment in time that paint a picture.” She attributed part of the overall county decrease to the county Board of Supervisors voting in 2010 to strengthen the penalties associated with selling tobacco to minors in the unincorporated areas. “It’s nice to see there might be some effect,” Dunn said. “We want to educate retailers that this is important.” The Tobacco Prevention Settlement Program will host a free Board of Equalization training for tobacco retailers Sept. 6 in Santa Maria, with video conference available in Santa Barbara. Retailers interested in attending can call 681-5407.