jump to main contentjump to site map

Preventing Underage Retail Access - U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company

print send
close form

Thank You.
Your message has been sent.

Sorry!
There was a server error in sending the form. Please try again later.

Sending e-mail...

error!
error!
error!
send
The information entered on this page will not be used to send unsolicited e-mail, and will not be sold to a third party.

Terms of Use | Privacy

Keeping tobacco products out of kids' hands is a critical part of helping reduce underage tobacco use.

We Card®

In 1999, USSTC became a supporting member of the Coalition for Responsible Tobacco Retailing and its We Card® training and education program.

We Card provides retailers with an array of tools and resources to help prevent underage tobacco sales, including training seminars, interactive online training, in-store signage and educational resources (such as age verification calendars, tip sheets on how to spot fake IDs, and retailer knowledge tests).

Underage Access Prevention Legislation

Federal Legislation

In June 2009, Congress enacted sweeping legislation that provides the FDA with broad authority over tobacco products. This new federal legislation requires the FDA to issue a variety of regulations designed to further prevent underage access to tobacco products. For example, certain regulations will:

  • prohibit “self-service” displays of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products, except in certain age-restricted facilities;
  • establish a federal minimum age of 18 for the sale of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products; and
  • require retailers to obtain identification for any consumer under 27 years of age.

State Legislation

At the state level, USSTC continues to support enactment of state underage access prevention legislation to complement FDA’s authority.  Among other things, such state legislation would:

  • 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;
  • 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; and
  • require minimum-age-to-purchase signage at retail stores and require valid proof-of-age for all tobacco product purchases.
Company Products Responsibility Company Products Responsibility Careers Media Careers Media