Group Claims Supermarket is Selling Lottery Tickets to Minors

A public health group is calling on Star Market to remove lottery scratch ticket machines from its Massachusetts stores.

Northeastern University's Public Health Advocacy Institute in a letter Tuesday morning said the supermarket chain has been illegally selling lottery tickets to minors.

The institute says a 14-year old Massachusetts boy helping test how easy it is for minors to buy lottery scratch tickets recently purchased Mega Millions and "$500 Frenzy game tickets" from vending machines at Star Market stores in Cambridge and Somerville.

The institute says Star Market does not have adequate protections to prevent the sales and positions the machines near candy, soda and snack displays, making them easily accessible to minors.

A spokesperson for the supermarket did not immediately respond to a request for comment.