Teen 'shoppers' set to bust tobacco retailers

Their friends might call them narcs. 

Others could say they're spoil-sports. 

But the Middlsex-London Health Unit says they're instrumental in their fight against retailers who sell smokes and vaping products to teens. 

The health unit is recruiting high school students to become what they call "tobacco test shoppers." Those are the young people who go into stores and try to buy products they're not supposed to be able to get because they're underage.

"The goal of test shopping is vendor compliance and reduced youth access to tobacco and vaping products," said Linda Stobo, who is in charge of chronic disease prevention and tobacco control at the health unit. 

The teens, between the ages of 15-17, work alongside tobacco enforcement officers to make sure local tobacco retailers are complying with the Youth Access Provisions under the Smoke-Free Ontario Act.

Busts for vaping products are almost on-par with tobacco products, numbers from the health unit show. This year, the health unit expects about 300 vendors to be checked for compliance. 

Last year, there were eight charges and two warnings about vaping products, and ten charges and three warnings about tobacco products. 

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"Studies have shown that while educating retailers is necessary, enforcement is also needed to improve compliance and reduce the prevalence of youth smoking," Stobo said. 

Under the smoke-free act, retailers are not allowed to sell or supply anyone under the age of 19 with vapour or tobacco products and they must ask for government-issued identification if the person appears to be under the age of 25.

Vaping: a new threat among youth

In 2018, 75 per cent of complaints received by parents regarding underage sales were concerning vaping products, while the other 25 per cent were about tobacco products, Stobo said.

This year alone, the health unit has received more complaints about vaping on school property between January and May of 2019 than in the entire calendar year of 2018.

"Young people are choosing to use vaping products at an increased rate that is of significant concern ... These products are delivering higher contents of nicotine per puff than older models of e-cigarettes and traditional cigarettes," Stobo said.

The MLHU first started test shopping for vapour products in 2016. 

"We're trying to ensure that we have an overall general protective factor in place in our community that is helping reduce youth access to both of these products," Stobo added. 

An 'uncommon' high school job opportunity

The "tobacco test shopper" job is a unique opportunity for teens, Stobo said. 

"It's an uncommon high school job that gives youth the opportunity to work with enforcement officers and understand the responsibility that comes with enforcing these rules and regulations. They also learn if these types of careers are of any interest to them," she said.

According to the MLHU's website, a typical shift for successful applicants would include:

• Visiting local retailers/vendors with a tobacco enforcement officer and attempting to purchase vapour products, tobacco cigarettes, or other tobacco products like dip, chew, cigars and cigarillos;

• Taking detailed notes to document test shopping activities;

• Attending and speaking at court hearings as required; and,

• Attending mandatory training.

Stobo said part of the training would be to help the teenagers understand their obligations under the law.