Yellowknife (Apr 26/06) - One could be flattered or outraged. Either way, if you smoke and appear to be younger than 40, be prepared to show identification next time you head to Extra Foods to buy a pack.

On April 5, Westfair ordered all its grocery stores, including Yellowknife's two Extra Foods outlets, to ask for identification from all people wishing to buy tobacco products who appear under 40. - Mike W. Bryant/NNSL photo

Westfair Foods, which owns both of Yellowknife's Extra Foods stores, has instructed its stores across Western Canada to be extra vigilant when selling tobacco products to their customers, even to those much older than the NWT's legal purchase age of 18.

A handwritten sign at the downtown Extra Foods informs shoppers that effective April 5, they must show I.D. if they want to satisfy their nicotine fix and are under 40 years of age.

The decision to raise the age bar came after British Columbia passed a new law - where the legal age to smoke is also 18 - demanding storekeepers to ask all tobacco purchasers who appear under 25 for identification.

Karen Guinan, who watched an angry scene unfold at the downtown Extra Foods store last week, said the whole idea seems preposterous.

"I wasn't concerned about me but two fellows, one was waiting for a cab and he wanted cigarettes but didn't have I.D.," said Guinan, adding that the men appeared between 35 and 45 of age.

"They were definitely over 19. The one guy was telling the girl he was a grandfather."

Neither man got their cigarettes and stormed out of the store empty-handed, said Guinan.

When she asked the cashier what all the fuss was about she was told about the under-40 rule.

"What's the world coming to?" wondered Guinan.

"Pretty soon we'll have to be 50 to buy liquor."

Antonio Temporao, an Extra Foods grocery supervisor, said personally he thought the under-40 rule was a "bit high" but his store was only following an edict handed down by Westfair.

Before April 5, he said, the store was only checking identification for those customers who appeared under 30. Some stores in Yellowknife carry signs warning customers that it's against the law to sell cigarettes to those under 18. Shopper's Drug Mart has adopted an under-30 rule.

Regardless, Temporao said he hasn't received any complaints.

One problem he has experienced, however, is with adults purchasing cigarettes for minors.

"(Minors) usually get someone to come in and buy them cigarettes and then go outside," said Temporao.

"I've stopped a couple people from doing it. It's not very often, but I've seen it done."

Lori Stene, Westfair's public affairs director, said after B.C. began ordering storekeepers to check identification on smokers who look under 25, the new law proved somewhat problematic.

"What we were finding was that it was a little difficult for our cashiers," said Stene.

"The 18 to 25 isn't that big a gap these days."

Consequently, and for the sake of consistency, Westfair ordered all its stores to check customers who look under 40, said Stene.

Yellowknifer staff purchased a number of cigarette packages in recent days. One 34-year-old female employee was asked for identification. Her birth date was entered into a cash register before the cigarettes were sold to her.

Two male reporters - one aged 34 and another aged 26 - were not asked for I.D. On their receipts were statements reading "Minimum age verified."

Stene said cashiers are required to enter birth dates on their machines to show they have asked for I.D.

"They have to consciously do that or consciously override it if they're positive the person is over 40," said Stene.

One item Extra Foods may have to re-consider in the near future is its handwritten sign warning people they will be asked for identification.

The recently passed NWT Tobacco Control Act carries a provision barring merchants from placing signs concerning the legal age that are not authorized by the territorial government.

Damien Healy, a spokesperson for Health and Social Services, says the act is in force but regulations have yet to be created. That will be ready by September, he said.

Stene said the store will comply with that portion of the act when the time comes.