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.
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 The Neighborhood Market Association and Local Ordinances Related to Tobacco Retailers: November 2011
Matrix of Strong Local Tobacco Retailer Licensing Ordinances: March 2011
Table of Strong Local Tobacco Retailer Licensing Ordinances: March 2011
Becoming a Policy Wonk on Local Tobacco Retailer Licensing: March 2011
Tobacco Retailer Licensing is Effective: March 2011
Cigarettes Generate Big Revenue for Convenience Stores: March 2011
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 Myths & Realities of AB 71: September 2004
Six Arguments Supporting Tobacco Retailer Licensing: February 2005
Tobacco Retailer Licensing Talking Points: 2002
Challenge in Rural Communities: September 2006
City of Sacramento's New Licensing Ordinance: April 2004
Leveraging Youth Purchase Survey Data: March 2004
San Mateo to Put Teeth into Local Licensing Law: June 2003