VISTA — The 2007 Tobacco Retailer License Program report, prepared by Vista staffers, presents a sunny snapshot of the precipitous decline in tobacco sales to minors in the city, but the true situation may be more complicated.

The 2005 Tobacco Retailer Licenser Program requires all tobacco sellers to be licensed by the city. Though the full cost of a license is $250 a year, this fee can be brought down to as little as $100 a year for businesses that don’t violate state or federal laws regulating tobacco sales.

“The purpose of the program is to reduce youth access to tobacco by encouraging responsible business practices and conducting annual compliance checks,” Community Outreach Program Manager Kathy Valdez said.

In 2005, before the program started, the percentage of minors who were able to buy tobacco during store compliance checks was 36 percent. In 2006, that number had dropped to 18 percent. According to the new report, the sales rate fell to just 7 percent for 2007.

“This is clearly meeting the objectives it set out to do,” Valdez reported to the council.

Eighty-three business have tobacco retailer licenses, the majority of which do not pay the full annual licensing fee.

“I think it’s a success story ... In partnership with the Chamber of Commerce and the community, we’re making progress with respect to tobacco retailers,” Councilman Robert Campbell said.

“I think it really is a benefit to our entire community and having the stipulation where they pay a reduced fee if they’re not violating the ordinance is an excellent thing,” Councilman Steve Gronke said. “It’s my hope that we’ll get to the point where nobody’s paying a full fee ... hopefully very soon.”

Several businesses have paid only the minimum fee this year because of their clean records. One such store is Sam’s Cigars on Escondido Avenue. Owner Salam Gabrial attributes his success to the strict reputation his business enjoys.

“Right away from the beginning, we started a system with no exceptions for anyone. If they’re in the door, they show ID,” he said.

Hyun Jin Kim, owner and operator of Slick’s Liquor on South Santa Fe Avenue, has a simple formula for his success.

“Always keep alert. Keep the minors away from the cigarettes. There’s no secret ingredient to it,” Kim said.

But according to Tawam Amir, who runs the 7-Eleven on East Vista Way, the report doesn’t tell the whole story. Though his establishment has a spotless record, sometimes students from the nearby continuation school will pay adults to purchase cigarettes for them.

Even if a store owner catches someone in the act, there isn’t much that can be done about it.

“When I’m not very busy, I go out and confront the customer and tell him ... what he’s doing is totally illegal ... (but) to confront these people is risky for ourselves,” Amir said.

Crime prevention units and law enforcement officers can be tasked to keep an eye on problem sites, but such duty is usually a low priority, according to Valdez, who works closely with the Sheriff’s Department.

Valdez believes that a joint operation with a state agency, along the lines of the way Vista works with California’s Alcohol Control Bureau to control liquor sales to minors in the city, might be a good idea for the future.

For more information or to report a tobacco-related situation, call Kathy Valdez at (760) 643-2892.