According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), approximately 20% of high school students smoke cigarettes or use other tobacco products.
The FDA also reports that 80% of adults who smoke started before they were 18 years old.
As part of the FDAs strategy of protecting the health of youth, compliance checks amongst tobacco retailers are done to determine whether or not vendors are cooperating in the enforcement of tobacco control laws.
Violating Tobacco Laws
In June 2009, President Obama signed the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. This legislation gives the FDA the authority to ensure smoking laws are enforced by undergoing compliance investigations of retailers. The purpose of this act is to ensure minors are protected from the health-crippling effects of smoking and tobacco use.
If retailers are found to be selling tobacco products, including cigarettes and smokeless tobacco, to underage users, the FDA issues a warning letter as part of the violation of tobacco control laws. If a retailer is found to be breaking the law, they may be required to pay a civil financial penalty.
To learn more, please click > FDA’s Warning Letters
Tobacco Control Compliance Investigations
Approximately 30,000 compliance checks have been completed across the country. The FDA has issued over 1,200 warning letters to establishments found violating restrictions of the sale and distribution of cigarettes and other tobacco products.
The compliance investigations include verifying whether or not the retailer:
- confirms the customer’s age by asking for photo identification;
- properly labels and advertises according to law smokeless tobacco products;
- has for sale single cigarettes;
- has in place a ban on cigarette products flavored like fruit or candy; and
- is using vending machines or self-serving cigarette dispensers that have been banned from use.
For more information on the FDAs retailer inspections, please click > Inspection of Retailers
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