Youth Access Enforcement: What Actually Works to Keep Nicotine Away from Kids
Age restrictions are only as good as their enforcement. The evidence on what works: compliance checks, retailer licensing with meaningful penalties, and restrictions on proxy purchasing. The evidence on what doesn't: warning letters and voluntary industry programs.
The federal Tobacco 21 law is enforced through FDA compliance checks—undercover inspections of retail outlets. The inspection rate is low (a fraction of retailers are checked annually), the penalties are modest (warning letters for first offenses), and the deterrent effect is limited. **Effective youth access enforcement requires: regular compliance checks with meaningful consequences (license suspension, not warning letters), retailer licensing (so that the license can be revoked), and restrictions on proxy purchasing (adults buying for minors). The current system has none of these.**
