Liquor Store's Tobacco Permit May Get 7-Day Suspension

The Westborough Board of Health may suspend a Connector Road liquor store's tobacco sales permit for seven days for selling tobacco products to customers under age 18 twice this year.

The board agreed Tuesday night to put HighPoint Wines' suspension on hold until its June meeting, and ask the Worcester Regional Tobacco Control Collaborative if it used someone under 18 and using a Massachusetts driver's license into HighPoint Wines to try to buy a cigar and cigarettes on April 11.

Director of Public Health Paul McNulty said HighPoint sold cigarettes to a minor used by the collaborative on Feb. 26. HighPoint owner Devinder Rekki paid a $100 fine, per the board's regulations, McNulty said.

The second alleged violation within 12 months prompted Tuesday night's public hearing on a potential seven-day suspension at the 2 Connector Road shop. Reikki also was fined $200.

Rekki's employee, named Andre, told the board he had been "checking IDs every single time," and in this case, the customer "looked like she was older."

McNulty said the youths used by the collaborative are under age, have a valid driver's license, and are told to tell the truth if store employees ask them their age when they try buying tobacco products.

McNulty said he was unaware of the board waiving such a suspension.

"The $200 fine portion of it is a small punitive measure," Chairman Dr. Nathan Walsh said.

"This really is a serious violation that happened a second time."