Lawsuit Accuses Grocery Chain Of Selling Lottery Tickets To Kids
BOSTON (CBS) -- Two major grocery store chains are coming under fire from a Boston health advocacy group over the sale of lottery tickets to underage buyers.
The Public Health Advocacy Institute is suing Star Market because the group says it's too easy for kids to get lottery tickets through store vending machines. The lawsuit alleges that the supermarket chain is violating the Massachusetts Consumer Protection Act by selling lottery tickets to children.
Six months ago, the group enlisted a 14-year-old boy to try to purchase lottery tickets from vending machines at Star Market and Stop & Shop stores in Somerville, Cambridge and Arlington.
"He went in the store, bought lottery tickets from the machine with really no difficulty at all," the group's litigation director, Allen Rainer, said. "They really are not capable of being monitored."
Video of the boy's purchase:
The group has also sent a letter to Stop & Shop. It demands that stores make sure anyone buying lottery tickets is of age, and keep the vending machines away from sections of the store that attract children, like the candy aisle.
"Our goal is to, frankly, have the stores get rid of them," Rainer said.
Star Market could not be reached for comment about the suit. Stop & Shop says it does not comment on potential litigation, other than to say it's committed to complying with all laws and regulations applicable to its business.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Mary Blake reports: