From CBC.ca on Tuesday, March 2, 2010:
MARITIMES -- A random test of retailers in the Maritimes by the Atlantic Lottery Corporation could not find a single one who would sell a lottery ticket to someone under 19.
In 2007, a sting operation conducted by CBC News found lottery tickets an easy buy for people under 19. Since then, the ALC has been working to make it harder, including conducting its own stings.
"We take our commitment not to sell or redeem products to minors, we take that very seriously," ALC spokeswoman Courtney Pringle.
And Pringle said that commitment is paying off. In December, the corporation did sting operations in all three Maritime provinces. The company sent someone younger than 19 years old into dozens of stores to buy lottery tickets. If the employee working behind the counter asked for ID, they passed. If they didn't, the store got a failing grade and possibly a $2,000 fine.
She said the results in P.E.I. were typical of results across the region.
"From Dec. 28 to Dec. 30, we were out in the market doing that compliance testing," said Pringle.
"I'm happy to say that we tested 23 retailers on Prince Edward Island and all 23 passed,"
The results were also perfect in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
When ALC did its first test of retailers on P.E.I. in 2008, 28 out of 35 retailers — 80 per cent — were caught selling lottery tickets to underage buyers.
At that time, selling to minors on P.E.I. was simply against ALC policy. Last year, the province made it illegal. But Pringle does not think that is the only thing making it harder for minors to buy tickets.
"We have had an education program in the market, so that would be just one of the tactics," she said.
Random testing of retailers will continue across the region, she said.
