by Mike Donoghue, Vermont News First, Vermont Business Magazine
A Brattleboro store has lost its right to distribute tobacco products for 15 days after it was caught a third time in less then a year selling to minors, according to the Vermont Department of Liquor and Lottery.
Smoke and Munch, operated by M. Sajan LLC at 707 Putney Road, will be allowed to stagger the suspension days over several weeks instead of being continuous, the Liquor and Lottery Board ruled.
The vote was unanimous to uphold the minimum 15-day suspension mandated by Vermont law, according to the order signed by Chairman Marty Manahan of St. Albans.
The 15 days will be served on mutually agreeable days and must be completed before Dec. 24, the board said in its 6-page ruling. The staggering is designed to provide less interruption to the business, the order said.
The three detected underage tobacco sales were conducted by the same clerk, who is no longer employed by the store, the board noted in its findings.
The latest violation came when the store sold tobacco products to a minor participating in a sting operation by the Department of Liquor and Lottery on June 24, according to Lt. Brandon King, executive officer for the department.
The clerk sold a 15-count cool-mint flavored nicotine pouches for $9.62 to the minor in the most recent violation during the summer, King said in the charges.
Records show a fourth violation within one year will net a 90-day suspension for the convenience store, which also offers gasoline.
Earlier, the store sold a rainbow candy-flavored vaping device with 2,500 puffs in another sting operation with a participating minor on Sept. 16, 2023. The store received a letter of warning.
The business had a second violation when the clerk sold a 15-count tin of wintergreen-flavored nicotine pouches on Dec. 29, 2023, records show. The store received a two-weekday suspension.
Mohamed Sajan and Washeen Mudasar appeared on behalf of the store for a contested hearing on Aug. 14 and requested either a reduced suspension or no penalty, records show.
They said remedial steps have been taken after the third violation, including terminating the employment of the clerk involved in the three sales.
The board later went behind closed doors to make its findings, which were made public recently.
The board said it rejected the leniency request in light of the law and past discipline imposed on the store.
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