FDA undercover

Food and Drug Administration undercover agents are patrolling retail outlets, looking for sales of tobacco products to young people under age 18. The FDA got this authority under the Tobacco Control Act of 2009. The following year, the FDA published a rule restricting the sale, distribution, and marketing of cigarettes, cigarette tobacco, and smokeless tobacco to people under 18. The rule requires retailers to check identification of every tobacco buyer appearing to be under age 27. The rule also restricts sale of single cigarettes, called "loosies."

Violators get an initial warning. On January 8 of this year, the Olive Tree Market at 4805 Narragansett Avenue and the Shell/Snack Shop at 4794 Voltaire Street got form warning letters from the FDA, saying they were observed violating the law by selling tobacco products to minors without checking identifications. The stores were required to respond to the FDA within 15 working days. Every year, thousands of businesses get such letters.