Several businesses in Wareham have received tobacco-selling suspensions, beginning Thursday morning.

At a Board of Health meeting Wednesday evening, six businesses received suspensions of seven days or 30 days, for selling tobacco products to minors. Five Star Gateway Gas, Joe's Gas, Wareham Country Market, and the Jug Shop each face a seven-day suspension while Capeway Convenience and Hi Lo Gas, with three violations each, will have their licenses suspended for 30 days.

Two weeks ago, the Cape Cod Regional Tobacco Control Program conducted compliance checks and found that 20 out of 39 stores in Wareham sold tobacco to minors. The owners of the licenses were ordered in front of the Board of Health on Wednesday and their penalties were decided.

Representatives from the 20 stores were in the board room, and each approached the table to go over their total number of violations and the penalties. The board voted on each penalty.

Bob Collett, an inspector from the tobacco control program who conducted the compliance checks, sat among the board members and provided additional information to owners who had questions.

License holders were accountable for all violations in the past 36 months. If it was their first violation, owners paid a $100 fine. For two violations in the past three years, owners paid a $200 fine and received a seven-day license suspension. For each store that had three violations, the fine was $300 and a 30-day license suspension. The Board of Health has the authority to revoke licenses for repeat offenses.

The stores are expected to move all tobacco products out of the store by Thursday morning.

First-time violators include Speedy Mart, Liquor Locker, Mayflower Liquors, Brennan's Smoke Shop, Sam's Gas, Sullivan's Wine and Spirits, Family Dollar, Onset Village Market, New England E-Cig and Smoke, Anchor Liquors, Dollar General, 7-Eleven on Cranberry Highway, Stop & Shop, and 7-Eleven on Barker Road.

At the meeting, many license holders sought resources from the town or state to implement or further education on the tobacco regulations for managers and employees. Some stores like Stop & Shop and 7-Eleven already have systems in place to make sure employees and managers are trained to keep up with regulations. Others, including Liquor Locker and Wareham Country Market, said they will implement new techniques to make sure no more violations occur.

Some businesses received notice of the violations after cleaning their video records, and were unable to determine which employees committed the faults. The Board of Health, which receives the results of the checks within 48 hours, are responsible for notifying the stores in whatever manner they choose to. Board of Health members agreed to notify license holders more quickly next time.

Collett and the Board of Health are currently working on putting together a workshop for all retailers. The tobacco program will conduct another compliance check on all the stores present at the meeting.

Come April 1, the age at which individuals are allowed to buy tobacco will rise from 18 to 21.