South Carolina Statewide Rule
South Carolina Tobacco 21 Minimum Age Sales Law
Key Facts
- Federal minimum age
- 21 (Tobacco 21)
- SC statute age
- 18 (§ 16-17-500, not updated)
- Definitions
- § 16-17-501
- ID checks
- Required for young buyers
- Enforcement
- SC Dept. of Revenue
Summary
Federal Tobacco 21 law bars selling tobacco, vapor, or alternative nicotine products to anyone under 21, and this applies in South Carolina. South Carolina's own statute (§ 16-17-500) still specifies 18 and has not been raised to match.
SECTION 16-17-500. Sale or purchase of tobacco products to minors; proof of age; location of vending machines; penalties; smoking cessation programs. (A) It is unlawful for an individual to sell, furnish, give, distribute, purchase for, or provide a tobacco product to a minor under the age of eighteen years.
Full Breakdown
Since December 2019, federal law has set the minimum age to purchase tobacco and nicotine products at 21 nationwide, and South Carolina retailers must comply. South Carolina's state statute, § 16-17-500, still makes it unlawful to sell tobacco, vapor, or alternative nicotine products to persons under eighteen and has not been amended to 21; § 16-17-501 supplies the definitions. Retailers must check photo identification for young-looking buyers, and vending machines and self-service displays are restricted where minors have access. Enforcement is shared by the SC Department of Revenue and local authorities, with civil penalties for retailers who sell to underage buyers.
Violations & Penalties
Retailer penalties escalate from about one hundred dollars for a first violation to higher fines for repeat offenses, with possible action against the retail license.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum age to buy tobacco in South Carolina?
Can minors be cited for tobacco possession in South Carolina?
Sources
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