Youth Access Prevention
The Issue:
Kids should not use tobacco products and all tobacco products should be marketed responsibly to adult consumers. Since 1997, youth smoking rates have declined dramatically; however, youth tobacco use remains a serious issue.
Kids should not use tobacco products and all tobacco products should be marketed responsibly to adult consumers. Since 1997, youth smoking rates have declined dramatically; however, youth tobacco use remains a serious issue.
Specific Legislative Provisions
State legislatures should pass legislation that would help prevent youth access to tobacco products. Specifically, this legislation should:
-
Require every individual store or retail establishment engaged in the sale of tobacco products to have a license;
-
Require all tobacco product purchases to be clerk-assisted or conducted in an otherwise non-self-service environment to include the restriction of vending-machine sales of tobacco products (except in certain specialty tobacco retail establishments);
-
Prohibit anyone from purchasing tobacco products for, or distributing tobacco products to, a minor;
-
Prohibit the purchase or possession of tobacco products by minors or the use of false identification by a minor during an attempt to purchase tobacco products;
-
Penalize clerks and retailers for selling tobacco products to a minor, but allow for an affirmative defense for those employers who have an education and training program in place in order to prevent such sales;
-
Require minimum-age-to-purchase signage at retail stores and require valid proof of age for all tobacco product purchases;
-
Prohibit out-of-package sales of tobacco products; and
-
Require a single designated agency to collect and report data about youth access prevention enforcement activities at the state level
For more information on this issue click here.
