No cigarettes to minors, revenue agents warn

No cigarettes

to minors, revenue agents warn

Georgia Commissioner of Revenue

T. Jerry Jackson has announced that rev enue

agents will be increasing their monitoring of retail establishments

that sell tobacco products.

"Our agents will be

concentrating on enforcing the state's underage laws regarding tobacco

products," said the commissioner.

"Georgia law prohibits

individuals under the age of 18 from purchasing cigarettes or tobacco

related-objects. The law also prohibits the sale of cigarettes and tobacco-related

objects to minors and it prohibits the purchasing of cigarettes and

tobacco-related objects for a minor unless the minor is the child of

the purchaser," he added.

The Department of Revenue

assumed responsibility for enforcing the state's underage laws regarding

tobacco products July 1.

Jackson reminds all retailers

of tobacco products that they must have a state license to deal in cigars

and cigarettes. The license is available at DOR's Atlanta central office

or any of its regional offices. The forms also are available on the

Internet at www2.state.ga.us/Departments/DOR/ .

Chet Bryant, director of

DOR's Alcohol and Tobacco Division, encourages dealers and individuals

to comply with the state's tobacco laws and regulations.

"Dealers and individuals

who do not comply with the law face criminal and civil penalties,"

Bryant warned.