Local Tobacco Sales to Youth Nearly Triple State Rate

Recent undercover operations revealed high rates cigarette sales to local minors.

Of 275 stores surveyed in Santa Barbara County, 17 percent sold cigarettes to a minor, nearly three times the statewide average of 6 percent.

Lompoc had the highest rate of tobacco sales to minors at 31 percent. Santa Barbara, Goleta, Carpinteria, Guadalupe and unincorporated parts of the county also exceeded the state rate at 18 percent and 19 percent. Solvang and Buellton had no sales of tobacco to minors, and Santa Maria sales rates were near the state average.

Sales dropped from 40 percent in Buellton and 25 percent in Solvang last year to zero percent this year. Sales rates in Goleta jumped from 6 percent to 19 percent and sales in Lompoc doubled from 14 percent to 31 percent.

The board of supervisors revamped an ordinance last year that regulates retail tobacco sales in unincorporated parts of the county, strengthening penalties for sales to minors.