News

Actions

Almost 100 retailers selling tobacco illegally to underage people in Kern County

Health Officials Cracking Down on Rising Illegal Tobacco Sales in Kern County
Posted
and last updated

Kern County Public Health Services announced a report on the illegal sales of tobacco products to underage residents Wednesday.

In the last six months, underage decoys have purchased approximately 100 tobacco products from local retailers.

County public health oversees the Tobacco Retailer’s Permit program in an attempt to lower the rate of tobacco products sold to children.

The program sends underage decoys into facilities to attempt to buy tobacco products and if a purchase is made, action is taken to suspect the tobacco permit.

Almost 100 retailers failed the test. The number of violations has doubled since last year, and it happened most in Northeast Bakersfield.

Kern County ranks 62% higher than the state average in illegal sales of tobacco products to underage individuals.

The full list of retailers is above.

,

Weather

Daily Forecast

View Hourly Forecast

Day

Conditions

HI / LO

Precip

Monday

06/30/2025

Clear

-° / 72°

0%

Tuesday

07/01/2025

Clear

102° / 71°

0%

Wednesday

07/02/2025

Clear

102° / 73°

0%

Thursday

07/03/2025

Clear

103° / 69°

0%

Friday

07/04/2025

Clear

95° / 67°

0%

Saturday

07/05/2025

Clear

96° / 68°

0%

Sunday

07/06/2025

Clear

99° / 70°

0%

Monday

07/07/2025

Clear

101° / 71°

0%