Iowa City Today

The Iowa City Police Department conducted tobacco sales law compliance checks from January 10-12, 2023, at the 56 businesses open for business and licensed to sell tobacco, alternative nicotine, or vapor products. Working with plainclothes officers, underage persons entered these businesses and attempted to illegally purchase these products. Forty-seven businesses refused to sell tobacco or other nicotine or vapor products to the underage buyers. Nine businesses checked by police sold to the underage buyers. 

On May 13, 2023, those nine businesses were checked again, pursuant to a cooperative agreement with the I-Pledge Program through the Alcoholic Beverages Division. Out of those nine businesses, three again failed and the employee was charged. The businesses who failed those checks were:

• Almost Paradise – 355 S. Linn St.
• Casey’s (previously Delimart) – 2410 Mormon Trek Blvd.
• Hawkeye Smoke & Liquor – 108 E College St.

The employees who sold tobacco products to the underage buyers were each charged with, “Employee Providing Tobacco Products, Vapor, or Cigarettes to Anyone Under 21 Years of Age.”  An employee convicted of selling tobacco products to persons under age 21 years of age is guilty of a simple misdemeanor, punishable with a $135 fine for the first offense.  One employee was charged with this being his second offense, which is punishable with a $325 fine.  Additionally, the violations may result in civil penalties against the tobacco licenses.

As with any criminal case, a charge is merely an accusation and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Original source can be found here.