Lawyer Normal Brian L. Schwalb introduced that 7-Eleven pays $1.2 million to resolve allegations that the comfort retailer chain violated Washington, D.C.’s ban on promoting digital smoking units inside 1 / 4 mile of center and excessive faculties.
The Workplace of the Lawyer Normal (OAG) decided that because the legislation went into impact on October 1, 2022, 16 7-Eleven areas within the District illegally bought hundreds of vapes and e-cigarettes in prohibited college zones. The chain had notified its shops in August 2022 of the upcoming restrictions, but all 16 continued to inventory and promote greater than 7,500 units after the legislation took impact.
“Promoting vapes and e-cigarettes close to faculties is unlawful as a result of, significantly for younger folks, these nicotine merchandise are addictive and unhealthy,” Schwalb mentioned. “7-Eleven’s unlawful gross sales threatened to reverse the progress we’ve made decreasing tobacco use amongst youth. Defending the security of our group is our prime precedence on the Workplace of the Lawyer Normal, and that features imposing native legal guidelines designed to guard the well being of our kids.”
The Flavored Tobacco Product Prohibition Modification Act of 2021, which grew to become efficient in October 2022, bans the sale, providing on the market, or distribution of vapes, e-cigarettes, and comparable units inside 1 / 4 mile of any center or highschool within the District. Fines for violations begin at $2,500 for the primary offense and may escalate to $10,000, together with suspension or revocation of tobacco licenses.
OAG’s investigation revealed that 10 corporate-owned and 6 franchised 7-Eleven shops in D.C. ignored each the legislation and company compliance reminders. These areas continued promoting units that the ordinance clearly prohibited.
Below the settlement settlement, 7-Eleven should pay $1.2 million to the District and completely finish gross sales and advertising of e-cigarettes and vapes at shops situated throughout the restricted college zones. The corporate can be required to supply annual coaching at corporate-owned shops, request that franchisees take part in coaching, and ship yearly reminders to shops in class zones concerning the ban.
The settlement additional obligates 7-Eleven to observe franchise shops on a quarterly foundation and notify OAG if any violations happen. If a franchise retailer receives 4 violations inside two years, 7-Eleven should terminate that franchise settlement and report the termination to the District.
Throughout the investigation, 7-Eleven started pulling digital smoking units from cabinets and stock programs at shops close to faculties. The settlement makes these measures everlasting and prohibits any promoting of the merchandise in school-zone shops.
Whereas the settlement is remaining, some folks took to social media to criticize the OAG’s announcement, noting that tobacco continues to be bought on the shops and native faculties are nonetheless situated inside 1 / 4 mile of marijuana dispensaries.
“But it surely’s cool to have a dispensary immediately throughout the road from BASIS,” mentioned social media consumer Mark Lyon, contemplating a constitution college on eighth Avenue NW. “Respect the consistency.”
Others requested the OAG to checklist the 16 7-Eleven institutions referenced within the prohibited college zones, whereas others warned of what may occur subsequent for the favored comfort retailer.
“Anticipate much more 7-Eleven closures in D.C.,” one other social media consumer famous, quoting Schwalb’s announcement on X. “In the meantime extra pot outlets – together with these close to faculties.”
