Shell joins effort to reduce tobacco sales to minors

By Mary Manning

Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2008 | 1:35 p.m.

Shell Oil Products and its joint venture Motiva Enterprises LLC reached an agreement with Nevada and 45 other states, plus the District of Columbia, to help reduce sales of cigarettes to minors, Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto said today.

The agreement covers 13,000 Shell outlets nationwide and 130 Shell stations in Nevada.

"We commend Shell for joining us in this important ongoing effort to keep tobacco out of the hands of young people," Masto said. "This agreement is an important contribution to the overall effort by my office to promote the health and safety of our children."

The attorneys general consulted with public health researchers, and state and federal tobacco control officials to reach an enforcement effort to curb tobacco sales to minors.

Other recent multi-state agreements cover gas station convenience stores selling fuel under Conoco, Phillips 66 or 76, Exxon, Mobil, BP, Amoco, ARCO and Chevron brand names and retail and pharmacy chains Kroger, 7-Eleven, Walgreens, Rite Aid, CVS and Wal-Mart.

Studies show that most adult smokers began smoking before they turned 18. Young people are particularly susceptible to the hazards of tobacco, often showing signs of addiction after smoking only a few cigarettes.

"For every child that doesn't become a smoker, that's a health victory, for the child and for the state," Masto said. "With this agreement, Shell joins the growing list of companies demonstrating their commitment to lead efforts against youth access to tobacco, in Nevada and nationwide."