CHATANOOGA, TN - Tennessee Attorney General Bob Cooper along with Mary Clement, Tennessee's director of the Division of Consumer Affairs, announced earlier this week that they have reached an agreement with Valero to prevent tobacco sales to minors, Chatanooga.com reports.

The agreement implements a series of measures designed to prohibit underage consumers from purchasing tobacco in Tennessee, where Valero has 10 company-owned or franchise outlets.

Accordingly, Valero has agreed to implement the following:

• Instruct clerks to check ID for all customers who appear to be under age 27;
• Introduce videotaped surveillance to monitor compliance by clerks;
• Eliminate cigarette vending machines and self-service tobacco displays from its stores;
• Perform random compliance checks with youthful tobacco purchasers.

"We commend Valero for taking strong steps to prevent tobacco sales to youths," Attorney General Cooper said.

Valero has also agreed to modify the terms of its franchise contracts to ensure that tobacco sales to minors are reported to the firm. It said that illegal sales could result in franchise termination.

Tennessee is one of 39 states that reached such an agreement with Valero. Similar arrangements have been reached with Walgreens, Rite-Aid, and CVS drug store chains; ExxonMobil, BP Amoco, ARCO, ConocoPhillips, Chevron, and Shell oil companies; Wal-Mart and 7-Eleven retailers; and the Kroger grocery chain. Combined, the settlements affect about 100,000 retail outlets across the nation.