Inuvik (July 07/03) - Western Arctic communities need to brush up on federal tobacco laws.

From June 23 to 27, Roger Reid, a Health Canada tobacco control programme inspector, and his team visited Inuvik, Sachs Harbour, Tuktoyaktuk, Tsiigehtchic, Aklavik, Fort McPherson, Paulatuk and Holman to see if stores selling tobacco products were in compliance with federal tobacco laws.

It turned out 70 per cent weren't.

"(The Western Arctic) is a very poor comparison to other regions across the country," said Reid, from his office in Calgary.

According to Reid's results, only 30 per cent of the stores licensed to sell tobacco complied with the federal law not to sell tobacco products to people under 18 years-old.

In the 2002 A.C. Neilsen Evaluation of Retailer Behaviour Report, 87 per cent of Alberta retailers complied and 71.2 per cent of national retailers complied.

Of the 20 Western Arctic stores licensed to sell cigarettes, chewing tobacco and related accessories, 14 sold to the undercover 16 year-old customer Reid sent out. The clerks failed to ask the boy for identification or age, said Reid.

"He walked out of there with 14 different packs of cigarettes."

The 14 stores -- eight of which were in communities outside of Inuvik -- were issued a warning.

"Each store will be re-tested and if the sell they will be charged," he said.

After the test, Reid performed an inspection to see if the stores were also displaying the necessary signs.

"A lot of stores that had signs up still sold tobacco to minors. It's very sad."

This was the first time in many years since the smaller communities were inspected because of their remoteness, said Reid. Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk were last inspected in 2002.

Selling tobacco to a minor is a federal offence and can result in a $3,000 fine for both the clerk and store on the first offence and a $50,000 fine for both on the second.

For complaints and questions about tobacco related issues call your local RCMP detachment or Health Canada at 780-495-7356.