Tobacco agreement signed with state by Smith's grocer parent company

Kroger Co., owner of Smith's Food & Drug Centers, has signed an agreement with the Nevada Attorney General's Office to curb tobacco sales to minors.

"Every day we keep a child from smoking is a public health victory. With this agreement, Kroger joins the growing list of retailers who have demonstrated their commitment to keeping our kids healthy in Nevada and across the country," said Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto in a news release.

The agreements incorporate "best practices" to reduce sales to minors, developed by the attorneys general in consultation with researchers and state and federal tobacco control officials, according to the release.

Kroger's has also agreed to implement comprehensive youth prevention tobacco retailing practices in its company-owned stores and take steps to prevent youth access to tobacco in its franchise outlets, including providing annual notices of the importance of complying with youth access laws; requiring franchisees to report violations to the corporate office; and modifying franchise agreements to provide that violations of youth access laws could constitute grounds for termination or nonrenewal of the franchise agreement.

The Kroger "Assurance of Voluntary Compliance" is the 11th such agreement. Previous agreements cover all 7-Eleven, CVS, Wal-Mart, Walgreens and Rite Aid stores, and all gas stations and convenience stores operating under the Conoco, Phillips 66, 76, Exxon, Mobil, BP, Amoco, ARCO and Chevron brand names.