A youth decoy tobacco sting operation done by Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency and the Sheriff’s Office showed that retailers are doing a pretty good job of keeping tobacco away from minors. The decoy, who is under the age of 21, was sent into 19 different retail stores attempting to buy tobacco products without an I.D. 15 of the stores refused to sell to the minor, but purchases were successful at 4 stores. They were the Sunshine Market in Shasta Lake City, Fast Track Chevron in Mountain Gate, Cruz Thru Market in Bella Vista and Cottonwood Chevron on 4th Street. Cottonwood Chevron was also cited in a sting operation last September. Citations were issued. The legal age to buy tobacco is 21, except for active military personnel, who only have to be 18.