Update: Iowa City Police Department conducts tobacco compliance rechecks

One of the eight businesses failed the recheck. The business that failed was:

• Hawks Mighty Mart, 504 E. Burlington St.

The employees who sold tobacco products to the underage buyers were each charged with “Employee Providing Tobacco Products, Vapor, or Cigarettes to Anyone Under 21 Years of Age.” An employee convicted of selling tobacco products to persons under age 21 years of age is guilty of a simple misdemeanor, punishable with a $135 fine for the first offense. Additionally, the violations may result in civil penalties against the tobacco licenses.

As with any criminal case, a charge is merely an accusation and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Original press release from March 19, 2026:

The Iowa City Police Department conducted tobacco sales law compliance checks on Friday, March 13, 2026, at the 55 businesses in Iowa City open for business and licensed to sell tobacco, alternative nicotine, or vapor products. Working with plainclothes officers, underage persons entered these businesses and attempted to illegally purchase these products. Forty-seven businesses refused to sell tobacco or other nicotine or vapor products to the underage buyers.

Eight businesses checked by police sold to the underage buyers.  The businesses that failed the compliance checks were:

• Essentials Vape and Smoke Shop, 560 Highway 1 W
• North Dodge Amoco, 2153 ACT Circle
• Hartig Drug, 701 Mormon Trek Blvd.
• The Konnexion, 106 S. Linn St.
• Hawks Mighty Mart, 504 E. Burlington St.
• Almost Paradise Mini, 125 S. Dubuque St.
• Hy-Vee Drugstore, 310 N. First Ave.
• Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh 3, 1103 N. Dodge St.

The employees who sold tobacco products to the underage buyers were each charged with “Employee Providing Tobacco Products, Vapor, or Cigarettes to Anyone Under 21 Years of Age.” An employee convicted of selling tobacco products to persons under age 21 years of age is guilty of a simple misdemeanor, punishable with a $135 fine for the first offense. Additionally, the violations may result in civil penalties against the tobacco licenses.

As with any criminal case, a charge is merely an accusation and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.