PRINCE.EDWARD.ISLAND (CBC) - Atlantic Lottery Corporation has agreed to release the names of 28 retailers on P.E.I. it caught selling lottery tickets to underage buyers.

The retailers were caught during a sting operation by ALC that found 80 per cent of retailers its underage shopper approached sold the minor a ticket. The corporation announced the results in February, but would not release the names of the retailers.

CBC News filed a Freedom of Information request, and that was enough to convince ALC to release the names. ALC spokesman Robert Bourgeois said publishing the names could be another deterrent to retailers who might consider selling to people younger than 18 years old.

"Obviously any deterrent you can have is good. I think that warnings are a deterrent, certainly suspensions are a deterrent," said Bourgeois.

No suspensions were handed out to retailers over these first violations. ALC said in February retailers caught a second time will have their licences to sell lottery tickets suspended for one week.

The corporation is also considering publishing the names of second-time offenders on its website, but Bourgeois said ALC is getting legal advice on whether that would violate privacy rules.

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