Commissioner's Office

Keeping Tobacco Away from Youth

We work to limit the marketing and sale of tobacco products to young people by strengthening laws and regulations and providing education.

Reducing access to tobacco products will help to protect youth from the long- and short-term health and economic consequences of smoking. Our goal is to reduce the illegal youth sales rate from 20% to 15% in five years.

Our Action Plan

Monitoring tobacco ads in corner stores and other cigarette retailers.
Educating merchants and the public that selling to anyone under 18 is illegal.
Empowering concerned residents to call 1-888-99-SMOKE to anonymously report suspected youth sales.
Issuing citations to merchants in-person to enhance deterrence.
Providing face-to-face education to merchants who violate the youth sales laws within 30 days of a violation.
Educating the City's Administrative Review, Law and Finance Department staffs that oversee appeal hearings on the public health consequences of tobacco sales to youth.
Exploring a local licensing requirement for tobacco retailers and possible restrictions on the location of retailers near schools.