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Beer Board fines vape shop $50 after undercover sale to minors; staff to propose stronger penalties
Summary
Following police testimony that undercover decoys (17 years old) were sold vaping products, the Beer Board fined Stars Vape and Tobacco $50 and directed staff to draft an amended ordinance with suspension/termination options and linkage to beer-license penalties.
The Beer Board fined Stars Vape and Tobacco $50 on July 13 after testimony that undercover decoys under age 18 were sold vaping products. The board also directed staff to prepare an amended ordinance to increase enforcement options, including suspension or termination of licenses and tying penalties to existing beer-license penalties.
City Attorney (speaker 11) and staff told the board the current vape ordinance lacks meaningful penalties beyond a $50 fine and recommended revising the code to add a graduated penalty schedule and authority to suspend or revoke privileges. Several board members urged that penalties mirror the beer-license framework so the city can suspend a retailer’s privilege to sell regulated products.
Lieutenant Maloney (speaker 16) described a coordinated undercover compliance operation involving Tullahoma, Coffee County and Manchester police, using 17-year-old decoys wearing recording devices. He said officers visited 12 retail locations and that Stars Vape and Tobacco was the only retailer that sold to the decoys during that operation. Maloney said there is audio and video evidence of the transactions.
A representative for the store (speaker 6) said he would have fired the employee had he known about the sale and acknowledged the board’s authority to act. Because the city ordinance currently limits the penalty to a $50 fine, the Beer Board imposed that fine and emphasized it intends to pursue stronger remedies through ordinance revision.
Why it matters: City leaders said available penalties must be meaningful to deter sales to minors. Board members underscored public-safety concerns because vape products can contain THC and unregulated concentrations.
Next steps: Staff and the city attorney will draft an amended ordinance for consideration at the next board meeting that adds enforcement options (including license suspension/termination and a graduated fine schedule) and references recent state-law changes as appropriate.
