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HCA - Tobacco Use Prevention Program - TUPP
 

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Tobacco Use Prevention Program
630 N. Broadway, Suite 127
Santa Ana, CA 92701
Phone: (714) 541-1444
Fax (714) 796-8261


Free Smoking Cessation Services available in English, Spanish and Vietnamese
1(866) NEW-LUNG
1(866) 639-5864

 
Tobacco Laws that Affect O.C.

Sale and Distribution of Tobacco Products

Tobacco Sales Laws

Penal Code § 308

Penal Code §§ 308 (a), 308 (e)

It is unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to knowingly sell, give, or in any way furnish to a minor any tobacco product or paraphernalia. No city or county shall adopt any ordinance or regulation inconsistent with this section.

Penal Code §§ 308 (b), 308 (e)

It is unlawful for any person under the age of 18 years to purchase, receive, or possess any tobacco product or paraphernalia. No city or county shall adopt any ordinance or regulation inconsistent with this section.

Penal Code § 308 (c)

Every store that sells tobacco must post a boldly-printed, contrasting-color sign in a conspicuous place where tobacco sales are likely to occur (such as at the cash register) saying that tobacco products may not be sold to minors. The sign must state that retailers must check the identification of anyone who reasonably appears to be under 18 years of age. Fines imposed for violations include $50 for the first offense, $100 for the second offense, $250 for the third offense, and $500 for the fourth offense and each subsequent violation, or imprisonment for not more than 30 days.

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Penal Code § 308.1

No person shall sell, offer for sale, distribute, or import any tobacco product commonly referred to as "bidis" or "beedies," unless that tobacco product is sold, offered for sale, or intended to be sold in a business establishment that prohibits the presence of persons under 18 years of age on its premises.

Any person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor or subject to a civil action brought by the Attorney General, a city attorney, county counsel, or district attorney for an injunction and a civil penalty of up to two thousand dollars ($2,000) per violation.  

Penal Code § 308.2

No person may sell one or more cigarettes, other than in a sealed and properly labeled package. A sealed and properly labeled package means the original packaging of the manufacturer or importer which meets federal labeling requirements, including the federal warning label.

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Penal Code § 308b

It is unlawful for a person to knowingly deliver or cause to be delivered any unsolicited tobacco products to any residence in California.

Penal Code § 308.3 (amended by SB 757)

This bill authorizes the Department of Health Services to conduct onsite sting inspections in response to public complaints regarding the sale of tobacco products to minors or at retail locations where previous violations have occurred; and provides various other authorizations and restrictions designed to support the limits the sales of tobacco products to minors.

The STAKE Act (Stop Tobacco Access to Kids Enforcement)

Business and Professions Code § 22958

This law prohibits any person, firm or corporation from selling, giving, or in any way furnishing any tobacco product or paraphernalia (including cigarettes and cigarette papers) to a person under the age of 18.
Exception: Violators may be penalized under either this section or Penal Code § 308 for a violation; they may not be penalized under both for the same incident.

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California Code of Regulations, Title 17, §6901

Business and Professions Code §§ 22952, 22958
The Department of Health Services shall conduct inspections of tobacco retailers using youth decoys to see if the retailer sells tobacco products to a minor. Inspections may be conducted (1) by random selection or (2) in response to reports of violations of state law, including reports made on the 1-800-5ASK-4-ID phone line.


This bill authorizes the Department of Health Services to conduct onsite sting inspections in response to public complaints regarding the sale of tobacco products to minors or at retail locations where previous violations have occurred; and provides various other authorizations and restrictions designed to support the limits of the sales of tobacco products to minors.

California Code of Regulations, Title 17, § 6902

Business and Professions Code § 22956
Retailers must check the identification of tobacco purchasers who reasonably appear to be under 18 years of age.

Tobacco Retailer License Business and Professions Code 22971.3, 22972-22973.1, 22980.2

Tobacco retailers must be licensed by the State Board of Equalization for each tobacco retail location. A fee of $100.00 is assessed one time for each retail location (including vending machines).

Cities having additional tobacco retail licenses:

Santa Ana

Business and Professions Code § 22960

Tobacco products shall not be sold from vending machines. Exception: Vending machines may be located in a premise issued an on-sale public premises license to sell alcoholic beverages, provided that the machine is at least 15 feet away from any entrance to the premises. Local governments may pass a law completely banning tobacco vending machines. Seven cities in Orange County prohibit all cigarette vending machines.

Business and Professions Code § 22962

This bill prohibits any person engaged in the retail sale of any tobacco products to sell, offer for sale, or display any tobacco product by self-service display, as defined, except in specified circumstances, and would impose civil penalties for violation of this prohibition. It authorizes the Attorney General, a city attorney, a county counsel, or a district attorney to bring a civil action to enforce this provision.

Business and Professions Code § 17537.3

Free samples of smokeless tobacco products may not be distributed within a two block radius of any premises or facility whose primary purpose is directed toward persons under the age of 18 including schools, clubhouses and youth centers when those premises are being used for their primary purposes.

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Tobacco Wholesale and Distribution Laws

Business and Professions Code §22954

California Code of Regulations, Title 17, §6905
Any distributor or wholesaler of tobacco products, and any cigarette vending machine operator shall annually provide to the California Department of Health Services, the names and addresses of those persons to whom they provide tobacco products, including dealers.

Revenue and Taxation Code §§ 30140-30149
Tobacco distributors must be licensed by the Board of Equalization for each place of business.

Revenue and Taxation Code §§ 30155-30159
Tobacco wholesalers must be licensed separately for each place of business. This free license must be prominently displayed at each place of business.

Health and Safety Code § 118950 (amended by SB 757)
This bill imposes an infraction or civil penalty for the manufacturing, distribution, sale, or offering of a package of cigarettes that does not contain at least 20 cigarettes or a  package of roll-your-own tobacco that does not contain at least 0.60 ounces of tobacco. Because this bill creates a new infraction, thus imposing new duties upon local agencies, the bill would constitute a state-mandated local program. This bill provides that no reimbursement is required.

Health and Safety Code § 104550

Cigar manufacturers or importers must label each retail package of cigars with one of the warnings listed in the law. Display boxes or containers used to sell individual cigars must be clearly labeled.

15 U.S.C. § 1333

Cigarettes may not be manufactured, packaged, or imported for sale or distribution unless they bear one of the Surgeon General’s warning labels. It is also unlawful for manufacturers, packagers, or importers to advertise cigarettes without one of the warning labels.

15 U.S.C. § 4402

Smokeless tobacco products may not be manufactured, packaged, or imported for sale or distribution unless they bear one of the warning labels listed in the law. Manufacturers, packagers, or importers also may not advertise smokeless tobacco products without one of the warning labels.

Master Settlement Agreement

MSA, § III (k)

A minimum pack size of 20 cigarettes is required until December 31, 2001. Tobacco companies are prohibited from opposing a state law setting a minimum pack size of 20 cigarettes.

Exception: If the state or local governments do not pass such a law, tobacco companies may resume the manufacture, sale, and distribution of reduced size packs ("kiddie packs") after December 31, 2001.

MSA, § III (g)

Distribution of free samples of tobacco products is prohibited except in an "adult-only facility", where the operator ensures that no minors are present.
Exception: This does not apply to tobacco products provided in exchange for proof of purchase or through special promotions such as "two-for-one" offers or for consumer testing.

MSA, § III (b)

Prohibits gifts in exchange for the purchase of a tobacco product unless the recipient provides sufficient proof that he or she is an adult.
 

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