Lorain County Public Health Completes Tobacco Compliance Checks

14 Stores Sold to an Underage Customer

Between December 2024 and January 2025, Lorain County Public Health (LCPH) conducted tobacco compliance checks at local tobacco stores. Tobacco compliance checks test the sale of tobacco to people under age 21.

“LCPH conducts tobacco compliance checks annually as a requirement of an Ohio Department of Health-funded grant,” said Mark Adams, MPH, REHS, health commissioner at LCPH. “The results tell us where to do more education on Tobacco 21, the law that raised the legal age to buy tobacco to 21 back in 2019.”

Student volunteers aged 18-20 completed compliance checks at 76 stores in Lorain County; 14 stores made an underage tobacco sale to the informant. These stores did not receive a fine and local law enforcement was not involved. However, LCPH will inform these store owners about the sale and share resources related to Tobacco 21.

Research shows that 95% of adults who smoke began using tobacco before they turned age 21. Tobacco 21 is an evidence-based way to decrease the chances of young people trying tobacco and becoming a lifelong regular smoker. Raising the age to buy tobacco put legal tobacco purchasers outside the social circle of most high school students.

“All tobacco products contain nicotine,” says Adams. “Nicotine is a highly addictive chemical that can be harmful for brain development. The young brain can continue to develop until age 25, which is why it’s so critical to prevent youth nicotine use, including use of e-cigarettes and vapes.”

The compliance checks were conducted by the Tobacco Use Prevention and Cessation Program, a grant funded by the Ohio Department of Health.

Visit LorainCountyHealth.com to learn how health and safety are priorities for Lorain County Public Health, or call 440-322-6367. Get local health updates on X, Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube.