Virginia Beach tobacco retailers must hold a state retail tobacco license and a city Business Professional and Occupational License, sell only to customers 21 or older under Va. Code Section 18.2-371.2, and post required age-restriction signage.
The Virginia Tobacco 21 law, codified at Va. Code Section 18.2-371.2, raised the legal sales age statewide to 21, mirroring federal Tobacco 21. Retailers in Virginia Beach must register with the Virginia Department of Taxation, obtain a city BPOL license through the Commissioner of the Revenue, post age-warning signage at the point of sale, and verify identification for any purchaser appearing under 30. The rule covers cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, smokeless tobacco, and electronic cigarettes and vapor products. Resort Area corner stores, Convention Center hotel sundry shops, and convenience retailers all face identical rules with periodic compliance checks by VBPD and Virginia ABC.
Sales to underage buyers carry a $100 to $500 civil penalty for first offense, $200 to $1,000 for repeat offenses, plus license suspension and possible revocation by the Virginia Department of Taxation.
See how Virginia Beach's tobacco retail license rules stack up against other locations.
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