Board of Health cuts $1,000 tobacco fines to $300 for two first-time violators

SUDBURY -- May 28, 2024, Sudbury Board of Health waives full tobacco fines one last time for two first-time violators. The board voted unanimously to reduce $1,000 penalties to $300 each for Stony Brook Market and Sudbury Mobil after both failed an April 19 youth compliance check covering all seven town tobacco retailers, with Chair Carol J. Bradford warning that any second violation will trigger the state structure of a $2,000 fine and a seven-day sales ban. Stony Brook manager Danny Jurdy, a 34-year industry veteran, called the failure "embarrassing" and said the store now cards every customer. Sudbury Mobil owner Antoine Lakkis said, "I did mess up. There's no questions asked." Health Director Vivian Ringhouse said draft regulations aligning local tobacco fees with the state schedule are headed to town counsel.