Reducing Youth Access to Tobacco

It has been illegal to sell tobacco products to youth in California since the early 1900's. Due to continuous illegal sales of tobacco to youth and lack of resources local governments have adopted local Tobacco Retail License Ordinances to enforce tobacco youth access laws. Additionally, the introduction of new tobacco products has raised new challenges in keeping youth away from a lifelong addiction to nicotine.

In California, 144 communities have adopted strong local tobacco retailer license ordinances in an effort to reduce illegal sales of tobacco products to minors. Strong ordinances include the following four components:

• An annual license that all retailers must obtain in order to sell tobacco products
• A license fee to sufficiently fund an effective program including an enforcement plan
• A provision that a violation of any existing local, state or federal tobacco regulation violates the license
• A financial deterrent through fines and penalties including the suspension and revocation of the license

We provide resources to local jurisdictions interested in pursuing a local tobacco retail license ordinance. Currently, the unincorporated areas and the cities of Carmel, Monterey, Salinas, Gonzales, Pacific Grove , Seaside and King City have adopted Tobacco Retail License Ordinances. For more information on existing Tobacco Retail License Ordinances please click here.

Additional Resources:

• Tobacco Prevention
• Retail Policy and Licensure
• Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
• California Youth Advocacy Network
• Report Tobacco Retailers Selling to Persons Under 21