To the editor:

I wish to defend the position of clerks who might have accidentally sold cigarettes to minors. I say accidentally, because I am sure that any conscientious employee would never knowingly sell to a minor. The price is just too high.

It was only a few years ago that a local judge told a police officer that he was not qualified to determine whether a person was under legal drinking age. The decision was eventually overturned in a higher court, but why is it that a sometimes minimum wage employee at a retail establishment is supposed to be able to ascertain whether a customer is under the age of 27, the age that has been arbitrarily set as the determining factor in judging whether or not to ask for identification (according to materials distributed by the Coalition for Responsible Tobacco Retailing Inc. as part of the “We Card” program). We are also supposed to be experts in spotting fake IDs. No one has yet told me what a 27-year-old looks like. Why not 30? Forty would certainly be easier to discern.

Chips Conoco was named as one of the outlets that sold to minors. In fairness to the employee who sold the cigarettes, she had only been on the job for two weeks. The “customer” sent in by ATF officers was chosen because he looked older than legal age. It seemed to be a clear attempt by authorities to deceive the employee.

For myself, if you’re under age, be prepared to go away empty-handed. If you’re older than 27, feel flattered that I thought you looked younger.

Dan Morris,

Topeka