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Enforcement

Compliance checks are conducted by local law enforcement officers and the Department of Health. However, checks are conducted by minors who look young and does not provide for a realistic tobacco buy. The penalty structure is well defined with a possible 60 days suspension for repeat violators. Lastly, Pennsylvania will penalize youth for purchasing tobacco product if they falsely represent themselves as being at least 21 years of age.

Tobacco Retail License

Comprehensive statewide Tobacco Retail License covering all tobacco products

Multiple Tobacco Retail Licenses that cover all tobacco products

Tobacco Retail License only covers cigarettes and NOT e-cigarettes

No statewide Tobacco Retail License

Preemption

No preemption

Preempted from raising the sales age

Preempted from creating a Tobacco Retail License

All public health is local. Often Big Tobacco works to add preemption to statewide tobacco control bills so cities and counties are unable to enact laws that better protect the public.

High School Vaping Rate

24.4%

of High School Seniors have vaped in the past 30 days

Tobacco Prevention vs. Industry Marketing

$1 :

$21

Pennsylvania spends $16M in tobacco prevention efforts and the tobacco industry spends $334.6M in marketing. For every $1 spent in prevention, Big Tobacco spends $21 in marketing.

Tax per pack of cigarettes

$2.60

E-cigarette tax: 1.15

State Rank: 13

Higher tobacco taxes are associated with decreases in tobacco use and increases in cessation and lower youth initiation.

Annual State Healthcare Costs due to Tobacco Use

$6.38 billion

References

Information updated Nov 2020. Please contact tom.geist@tobacco21.org if you have suggested updates.

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