The Problem
Generally, there are two ways youth gain access
to tobacco:
1. Social Sources (Ex: From family or friends)
2. Retail Sources (Ex: Convenience or Grocery
stores)
Since it is nearly impossible to monitor the social
side, action must be taken to control illegal
sales in the retail environment.
Remember, selling tobacco is a privilege not a right.

The Facts
• 99.4% of convenience stores sell tobacco
• 75% of teens enter a convenience store at
least once a week and stay twice as long
as adult customers
• 27% of these teens usually buy cigarettes
or other tobacco products
• Average sales of cigarettes per store were
$393,327
These numbers are serious considering…

The Effects
• Almost 90% of smokers began at or before
the age of 18
• Every day 300 California youth start
smoking
• 2/3 will become long term users
• Tobacco kills ½ of its long term users
• 596, 000 of California’s youth under the
age of 18 will ultimately die prematurely
from smoking

What Can be Done?
• It has been illegal to sell tobacco to minors
for over 100 years
• Tobacco is the only deadly and addictive
product that can be sold without a license
• Several years ago California advocates
launched a new effort to end illegal sales of
tobacco to minors
• The new effort focused on passing local
Tobacco Retailer Licensing (TRL) ordinances

How Does a TRL Work?
• The TRL ordinance requires store owners to
purchase an annual permit in order to sell any
tobacco product
• The permit fee covers the cost for the
administration of the license and, more
importantly, the enforcement
– Enforcement = Merchant /community education and
several youth purchase stings per year
• If store owners or clerks are caught in violation
of the ordinance, they are fined or could
potentially have their licenses suspended or
revoked

Local Licensing Goals
• ADOPT A STRONG RETAILER
LICENSE
• REDUCE YOUTH ACCESS TO
TOBACCO
• LOWER YOUTH SMOKING
RATES

Licensing is Successful
Case Study: Contra Costa County
Illegal sales before TRL
- Illegal sales rate = 37%
Strong TRL policy was adopted
- YPS was critical tactic
- Youth presented YPS results
Illegal sales rate after TRL
- Illegal sales rate = 7%

How to Get Involved
• Educate your friends and family about the
issue
• Talk to your youth coordinator about what
you can do in your local community
• Join the Stop Youth Access Social
Network at stopyouthaccess.ning.com!
• Join the TRL myspace and facebook
groups

Stop Youth Access to Tobacco
For more information contact Maureen
at maureen@cyanonline.org or at
916.339.3424.