Lisa Madigan (D)
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (Legal Newsline)-Shell Oil Products US has signed a multi-state agreement aimed at curbing cigarette sales to minors at more than 13,000 of its independent retail outlets, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan said Wednesday.
The settlement calls for Shell and its parent company -- Delaware-based Motiva Enterprises LLC -- to implement at its own and at contract-operator retail outlets specific corrective actions such as providing training for its employees on youth access to tobacco products.
Shell has also agreed to hire an independent firm to perform undercover compliance checks at its stores, and to designate an employee in their corporate office responsible for overseeing compliance with the settlement agreement.
This is the 12th agreement Madigan's office has signed with national retailers, including CVS, 7-Eleven, Wal-Mart and Walgreens stores, and gas stations and convenience stores operating under the Conoco, Phillips 66 or 76, Exxon, Mobil, BP and Amoco brand names.
"Studies show that most adult smokers begin smoking before turning 18, and we know 47 percent of underage youth who reported buying cigarettes say they purchased them at gas station convenience stores," Madigan said. "By preventing a teen from smoking, we can protect the health of the next generation."
Under the agreement, Shell also will pay $100,000 for the costs incurred by the states in investigation and negotiation.
In addition to Madigan, attorneys general who have signed onto the agreement are those representing Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming.
From Legal Newsline: Reach reporter Chris Rizo at chrisrizo@legalnewsline.com.