RALEIGH, N.C. — Agents with state Alcohol Law Enforcement checked 146 retail establishments in Durham and Orange counties and arrested 48 store clerks for selling tobacco to underage children.

Agents issued a criminal citation to each of the store clerks who were allegedly in violation of the law by selling cigars, cigarettes, snuff or bulk tobacco to customers who were younger than 18 years old.

"Store clerks have no excuse for selling tobacco to minors," said ALE Director Mike Robertson. "All it takes is a quick glance at a driver's license photo and the color of the border around that photo. A red border means the person is too young to be buying tobacco products."

The crackdown, which occurred in December, was part of a statewide tobacco compliance check campaign.