By Justin Sobol
Buffalo, NY – A local supermarket chain is stepping up its efforts to stop the sale of alcohol and tobacco to underage consumers.
Wegmans announced yesterday that the company will be changing its policy on proofing for alcohol and tobacco purchases. The current policy requires the identification of anyone who appears to be thirty years of age or younger.
Now, Wegmans' consumer affairs manager Ann McCarthy says the company will proof every customer who buys alcohol or tobacco, regardless of age.
"We have over six million transactions per year of alcohol and tobacco. We have over 4,000 employees who are under 21 years of age," McCarthy said. "They are telling us increasingly that they fear criminal or civil prosecution in the event they permit an underage sale."
The new proofing policy goes into effect in all New York State Wegmans stores on June 14th.