Tobacco Retailer Licensing
The rate of tobacco sales to youth in local youth purchase surveys are alarming: thirty, forty, and sometimes even higher percentages of tobacco retailers surveyed have been willing to sell cigarettes illegally to minors. Local communicates in California have responded to this problem by adopting strong local tobacco retailer licensing ordinances that include licensing fees high enough to fund enforcement programs, usually above $200 per retailer. Strong licensing ordinances also include financial deterrents through fines and penalties that include the suspension and revocation of the license.
In addition to the basic licensing ordinance, some communities are considering other policy options that can be “plugged-in” to the basic licensing ordinance to provide greater health protections for youth. These policy options include prohibiting sales of tobacco products near schools, creating license penalties for sales of drug paraphernalia and restricting the individual sale of little cigars and cigarillos. To learn more, check out a webinar held in conjunction with PHLP in November 2011, entitled "Going Beyond TRL: Emerging Tobacco Retailer Policies."
The Center has commissioned a survey of rural and small town voters in California on tobacco retailer licensing. To read summaries and see the results of the poll, click here. In addition, the Center commissioned a survey of California voters about these plug-in policies, click here for the results and summary documents.
Licensing Resources
Tobacco Retailer Licensing is Effective: August 2012
Becoming a Policy Wonk on Local Tobacco Retailer Licensing: August 2012
Cigarettes Generate Big Revenue for Local Tobacco Retailer Licensing: August 2012
Matrix of Strong Local Tobacco Retailer Licensing Ordinances: July 2012
Table of Strong Local Tobacco Retailer Licensing Ordinances: June 2012
Licensing TALC Ordinance Checklist: June 2010
Plug-in Resources
Becoming a Policy Wonk on Eliminating Sales of Single Little Cigars and Cigarillos in Los Angeles County: November 2011
Matrix of Local Ordinances Restricting Tobacco Retailers Within a Certain Distance of Schools: April 2011
Using Tobacco Retailer Licensing to Provide Penalties for Violation of State Drug Paraphernalia Laws: June 2009
Additional Resources
Pipe Down: How to Address Drug Paraphernalia in Your Community
The Neighborhood Market Association and Local Ordinances Related to Tobacco Retailers: July 2012
The National Association of Tobacco Outlets and Local Ordinances Related to Tobacco Retailers: July 2012