Jennifer McPhee
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Aug 13/01) - An investigation by tobacco enforcement officers has found that 55 per cent of retailers sold cigarettes to minors in four Northern communities.

Breakdown Fort Simpson: 75% of retailers sold cigarettes to minors Hay River: 66% of retailers sold cigarettes to minors Fort Smith: 40% of retailers sold cigarettes to minors Enterprise: 33% of retailers sold cigarettes to minors

Test shoppers, ages 15 and 16, were sent into 18 stores in Fort Simpson, Hay River, Fort Smith and Enterprise to buy cigarettes.

The kids did not insist the store sell them cigarettes. If the store refused, they left. And, if asked, they revealed their true age.

Still, just eight retailers sent the kids away smokeless.

Smoking rates among NWT children and adolescents have reached an alarming high. According to a recent Health and Social services report, a whopping 60 per cent of NWT youth ages 12-14 have tried smoking. The Canadian average is 22 per cent.

Peter Thirnbeck, a tobacco enforcement officer with Health Canada, said the results of the checks were not surprising.

Thirnbeck, who quit smoking in 1999, pointed out that it is the first time these ares have been checked.

Last week, the offending stores received a warning letter. But next time, both stores and clerks may face hefty fines.

The ongoing investigation is a joint effort by the RCMP, Health Canada and the NWT.