Attorney General Bill McCollum News Release
October 8, 2008
Media Contact: Jenn Meale
Phone: (850) 245-0150
en EspañolPrint Icon Print Version

McCollum: Florida Joins Agreement with Shell Oil to Curb Tobacco Sales to Minors

~ 47 Attorneys General Sign Agreement, Covering About 13,000 Shell Outlets ~


TALLAHASSEE, FL – Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced that Florida has joined 45 other states and the District of Columbia in an agreement with Shell Oil Products U.S. and its parent company, Motiva Enterprises. Under the agreement, Shell has agreed to adopt procedures designed to reduce sales of cigarettes to minors at locations which sell Shell gasoline, even if Shell does not directly own or operate the convenience stores.

Nationwide, 47 percent of underage youths who reported buying cigarettes have said they did so at gas station convenience stores. Approximately 14,000 gas stations in the U.S. sell Shell gasoline and most have convenience stores that sell items including tobacco products. There are 968 Shell stations in Florida, the third highest number in the country.

The Shell agreement was the result of an ongoing, multistate enforcement effort among the Attorneys General, and incorporates “best practices” developed by the Attorneys General in consultation with public health researchers and state and federal tobacco control officials. The agreement includes provisions for comprehensive training of retail personnel, independent compliance checks to monitor sales practices at certain Shell-branded convenience stores, and sanctions against contract operators that sell tobacco to minors, among other terms.

The agreement is among several produced by the ongoing multistate enforcement effort in which Florida has participated. Previous agreements cover gas station convenience stores selling fuel under the 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.

Stay Connected Follow Us News feed

Read Attorney General Bondi's Weekly Brief

Provide your email address below to receive the Attorney General's Weekly Briefing featuring the latest news and updates on top issues.