Demo’s Sports Bar 12/20/12
| | |
 Department of Health and Human Services
| Public Health Service
Food and Drug Administration |
| | Center for Tobacco Products 9200 Corporate Boulevard Rockville, MD 20850-3229 |
WARNING LETTER
DEC 20, 2012
VIA UPS
Demo’s Sports Bar
Attn: Site Manager
3829 North Belt West
Belleville, IL 62226
Re: FDA Warning Letter Regarding Tobacco Retailer Inspection Violations
Reference Number: 12IL001968
Dear Sir or Madam:
This Warning Letter is notification from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advising you that Demo’s Sports Bar was observed to be in violation of federal tobacco laws and regulations. Failure to correct these violations may lead to federal enforcement actions, including monetary penalties. Your response is requested in 15 working days.
On November 8, 2012, an inspector representing the FDA completed an inspection of the establishment, located at 3829 North Belt West, Belleville, IL 62226. During this inspection the establishment was in violation because it has a vending machine that sells cigarettes in a facility not restricted to adults at all times and it has a vending machine with false and/or misleading buttons marked “low tar” or “light”.
This inspection revealed that the establishment sells, distributes, advertises, and/or promotes cigarettes, cigarette tobacco, and/or smokeless tobacco, which requires that the establishment and its owners comply with federal laws and regulations governing such practices. The violations observed during the November 8, 2012,inspection include the following:
1. The establishment has a vending machine or other electronic or mechanical device that provides a consumer direct access to cigarettes without restricting the facility to adults at all times.
A retailer MUST sell cigarettes, cigarette tobacco, and/or smokeless tobacco only in a direct, face-to-face exchange between the retailer and the consumer and cannot use a vending machine unless a retailer ensures that minors are neither present nor permitted to enter at any time. Failure to do so violates 21 C.F.R. § 1140.14(c).
The establishment fails to ensure that minors are neither present nor permitted to enter at any time. During the inspection, the bartender on duty told the inspector that minors are allowed to enter with an adult during sporting events. Therefore, the establishment is not restricted. It is your responsibility to ensure that no person younger than 18 years of age is present or permitted to enter the establishment at any time, or to ensure that all cigarettes, cigarette tobacco, and/or smokeless tobacco products are only sold in a direct, face-to-face exchange.
2. The establishment has a vending machine with selection buttons marked “Camel Lights”, “Marlboro Lights”, and “Marlboro Ultra Lights.” The cigarettes stocked to correspond with the “Camel Lights”, “Marlboro Lights”, and “Marlboro Ultra Lights” buttons are not labeled as such. Cigarettes, cigarette tobacco, and/or smokeless tobacco with labels, labeling, or advertising that do not correspond to the actual product are misbranded under section 903 of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. § 387c), in that the name on the button is false and/or misleading. In addition, the buttons use the term “low tar” or “light”. Cigarettes with labels, labeling, or advertising that use the descriptor “low tar” or “light” are misbranded under section 903 of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. § 387c), in that the descriptive terms are false and/or misleading. Labeling or advertising cigarettes as “low tar” or “light” is misleading to consumers. Congress has found many smokers mistakenly believe that “low tar” and “light” cigarettes cause fewer health problems than other cigarettes.
A retailer must NOT sell cigarettes, cigarette tobacco, and/or smokeless tobacco for which the label, labeling, or advertising is false and/or misleading. Doing so is prohibited by section 301 of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. § 331).
The listed violations cause your cigarettes to be “misbranded” under 903 of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. § 387c).
You should immediately correct the violations listed above. Failure to correct the violations may result in FDA taking regulatory action without further notice. These actions may include, but are not limited to, civil money penalty, no-tobacco-sale order, seizure, and/or injunction.
The violations indicated in this letter may not be a complete list of violations at the establishment. The establishment must comply with all the applicable laws and regulations. For more information on these requirements, helpful resources for retailers, a database of inspections, and free Break the Chain of Tobacco Addiction materials, visit our website at
http://www.fda.gov/TobaccoProducts.
You have 15 working days from the date you receive this letter to respond. In your response, explain your plan for correcting the listed violations and preventing future violations. Include a telephone number and address. Note your reference number of 12IL001968 in your response and mail it to:
SP-WL Response
FDA Center for Tobacco Products
9200 Corporate Boulevard
c/o Document Control Center
Rockville, Maryland 20850
If you have any questions, contact Carisa Bergen at (301) 796-2990 or via email at Carisa.Bergen@fda.hhs.gov. Have your reference number ready when you call and include it with any email communications.
Sincerely,
/S/
Ann Simoneau, J.D.
Director
Office of Compliance and Enforcement
Center for Tobacco Products
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