Smoke?
Look older than 27?
If you answered yes to the first question and no to the second, you could be in for a hassle when you try to buy your next pack of Camels.
As of today, new FDA regulations take effect that require all merchants who sell tobacco products to card buyers who look younger than 27. The new law also will dramatically increase fines for selling to those who are under 18, from $25 to $250, and will increase the use of stings to catch violators of the act.
"The new law will require merchants to check identification. for any persons who look younger than 27," said Patrick Smith, Health Education Specialist with the Montana Department of Public Health. "This will eliminate the problem of teens who look older than 18 (who are) buying tobacco."
The new regulations, which were approved Aug. 23, are part of a comprehensive initiative designed to reduce tobacco use in teen by 50 percent within the next seven years.
The new regulation is a Federal law that prohibits the sale of all tobacco to people under 18, excluding cigars and pipe tobacco. The new law also bans all cigarette vending machines except those in an "adult" environment that never allows entry to minors, such as night clubs, bars, ect.
The regulations "essentially deal with reducing access of tobacco products to children and reducing the appeal of tobacco," said Smith. (However) "I don't understand why the rule doesn't cover cigars and pipe tobacco" as well.
On Aug. 28, the second part of the regulations will restrict all tobacco ads in magazines to a black and white, text only format. It will also prohibit any tobacco-related billboards within 1,000 feet of a school zone, and ban all tobacco brand names or logos on items like hats, t-shirts and gym bags.
"This first part is to reduce the access of tobacco to minors," said Smith. "The advertisement restrictions are to reduce the appeal of tobacco to children."
Not only will the fines be higher for those selling to minors, but the enforcement of the new law will be tougher as well.
(The FDA) "will perform random, unannounced compliance checks," said Smith. "They will utilize minors under 18 to attempt to buy a tobacco product."
In most cases, local tobacco retailers have no objections to the new law, and even agree with the idea.
"It's a good idea," said Lacey Adams, assistant manager at Cigarette Store. "We have so many kids coming in here trying to buy cigarettes. A lot of parents don't realize that their kids are buying cigarettes."
Although many think the new laws are a good idea, with the FDA spending an estimated $30,000 per state every year, some aren't convinced the laws will achieve the desired effect.
"It's not going to make a difference," said an anonomous smoker. "Stores that sell to people under 18 find a way around the current regulations, so I'm sure they'll find a way around this one too. Even if an underage student gets an 18-year-old to buy for them they still can, It's pointless!"