2 Bristol Stores Sold E-Cigarettes To Minors: Police

BRISTOL, RI — Two Bristol stores were caught selling e-cigarettes to minors over the weekend, police said Tuesday. The two stores were issues court summonses for violating state tobacco regulations.

Over the weekend, officers conducted a tobacco and vape compliance check to ensure all local businesses were obeying state laws. Midland Farms, located at 429 Wood St. and Pick N Pay at 300 Hope St. were found to have sold vape products to customers under the ago of 18, police said. Both were issued district court summonses for the sale of tobacco to minors.

According to the Rhode Island Department of Health, one in five teens reported using e-cigarettes or vape products in 2017. As of Sept. 11, the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention reported 380 cases of unknown lung illnesses across several states, possibly related to vaping.

The announcement came the same day that North Kingstown Representative Julie Casimiro announced that she plans to introduce a bill to ban the sale of flavored e-cigarette products during the upcoming legislative session.