Crack Down On Retailers Selling Vapes to Minors

Last week, Winchester detectives conducted a sale to minor operation by sending a minor, into establishments attempting to purchase vaping products.

In recent months, the Winchester Police Department has received several complaints about various retailers in Winchester selling vaping products to minors under the age of 21. Last week detectives conducted a sale to minor operation by sending a minor, into establishments attempting to purchase vaping products. During this operation, 3 retailers out of 17 did sale vaping products. Downtown Vape and Smoke, Mad Smoke and Vape, and Halfmoon Smoke Shop allegedly sold vaping product to a minor. The clerks at Halfmoon Smoke Shop and Mad Smoke and Vape were issued a citation in lieu of arrest. Downtown Vape and Smoke sold to a minor twice during last week's sale to minor operations. The clerk, identified as Attia Botros, was issued a citation in lieu of arrest on the first offense but was then taken into custody after the second offense. Under Tennessee State Law, a person under the age of 21 cannot purchase tobacco or vaping products. It is also illegal to purchase for or sale to individuals under the age of 21.