VT Tobacco Enforcement

This past weekend we returned to Vermont. Picking up on my normal routine I visited the Weston Market Place, our local village coffee shop, to get the morning paper and a coffee. While there I met a new employee tending the cash register.  Her name was Dawn and she seemed very pleasant.  Perhaps in her early 30's.

On Monday morning I revisited the Market.  I was pleased with the fact that I remember Dawn's name and was able to give her a proper "Good Morning, Dawn" when I entered the store.  While checking out I noticed that all of the tobacco products had been removed from the store.

"What happened, Dawn? Did the boss decide to make new stands for the cigarettes?"

"I'm afraid its a little more complicated than that.  A few weeks ago when I first started here I was at the register when a young boy came in to buy some cigarettes.  I carded him...found him to be under age...and told him no way was I selling him anything. At that point an older man who had come in the store ahead of the boy came over and said "Good Job.  I"m from the State of Vermont Liquor and Tobacco Enforcement Division and you just did the right thing.  Congratulations."  Then he went on to ask.."Now may I see your Certificate of Training from the State of Vermont?" 

"Well having just started I had not gone on line and renewed my online training certificate to indicate that I had viewed the training course and indicated that I was working at this specific location.  I am required by the State law to have this certificate of online training in my possession at all times while working in the store.  The officer nicely said that I should take the course tonight and all would be forgiven.  Well as it turns out earlier this month the boss got a letter from the State siting the violation and informing that he would not be allowed to sell any tobacco products on Monday November 27, 2012 and that all such products had to be removed from the store for that day."

"So here I am.  My Boss wasn't mad at me or anything.  In fact he removed all to the tobacco.  But he is making me tend the register today and guess how many times I have had to tell this story since 6am this morning."

It turns out that the kid who attempted the purchase was an employee of the State and with the enforcement officer.

Justice in the works.