Store clerks in eight surrounding counties were cited in January by Alcohol Law Enforcement agents for allegedly selling tobacco products to minors.

Agents checked 111 retail establishments and cited 19 store clerks in Robeson, Scotland, Hoke, Harnett, Johnston, Lee, Sampson, and Wayne counties.

As part of the state’s Tobacco Education and Compliance Check Program, ALE agents every month randomly check stores that sell cigarettes and other tobacco products to make sure the clerks are asking for identification and refusing sales to anyone under the age of 18.

The N.C. Health and Wellness Trust Fund pays for the tobacco check program. In North Carolina, surveys show that 90 percent of adult smokers began using cigarettes before age 18.

A District Court judge may fine a violator up to $1,000 or order community punishment of up to 30 days if the defendant has no prior convictions. If the clerk does have prior convictions, he or she could serve time in jail as well. Selling tobacco to an underage person is a Class II misdemeanor.