Eight stores in Sarasota cited for selling vaping products to minors, cops say
The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office cited eight businesses for selling nicotine vaping products to minors during an undercover operation that concluded this week.
“Vape pens and e-cigarettes are becoming more popular these days than traditional cigarettes,” Sheriff Tom Knight SAID. “That is why we are being proactive by trying to make sure instruments that support the use of addictive tobacco, THC and other products isn’t getting into the wrong hands.”
Undercover personnel were sent to test 29 vaping businesses in Sarasota and 21 were found to be in compliance. Those cited:
- DNA Vaping Lounge, 5045 Fruitville Road.
- Smoker Friendly/Tobacco Depot, 4461 Bee Ridge Road.
- Fantasy Vape and Smoke Shop, 2868 Ringling Blvd.
- Ignite Vapors, 3251 17th St.
- Cheap Smokes, 1839 South Tamiami Trail.
- Skybudz Somke Shop Inc., 3135 N. Tamiami Trail.
- Gateway Vape, 6534 Gateway Ave.
- Ryo Tasteful Tobacco, 5761 Beneva Road.
The eight clerks who sold the products to minors were cited with a misdemeanor notice to appear.
“We will continue our education and enforcement efforts so long as there are children to protect and businesses to hold accountable,” Knight said.