Keeping tobacco products out of kids' hands is a critical part of helping reduce underage tobacco use.
In 1999, USSTC became a supporting member of the Coalition for Responsible Tobacco Retailing. The Coalition comprises national retail and wholesale associations and tobacco manufacturers who share one common goal: to prevent tobacco sales to underage purchasers.
The Coalition's
We Card program 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).
In addition, USSTC supports legislation that would help prevent youth access to tobacco products. The best way to address concerns about youth access is through legislation that would fairly and equitably apply to the entire category. USSTC supports the enactment and effective enforcement of model youth access prevention laws that, among other things:
- all retailers who sell tobacco products to have retailer licenses to do so;
