Connecticut General Statutes §53-344 prohibits sale, gift, or delivery of tobacco, vapor products, and electronic nicotine delivery systems to anyone under 21. Bridgeport retailers must verify ID for any buyer who appears under 30 years old.
Connecticut raised the legal tobacco purchase age to 21 effective October 1, 2019, codified at CT §53-344, aligning the state with subsequent federal Tobacco 21 law passed in December 2019. The statute covers cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, hookah and pipe tobacco, electronic cigarettes, vapor products, and nicotine pouches. Bridgeport retailers must check government-issued photo ID for any customer who appears under thirty and may not accept ID known to be fraudulent. Penalties for selling to minors include civil fines starting at $200 for a first offense and increasing for repeat violations, plus potential license suspension. Local health and CT DCP inspectors conduct compliance checks, sometimes using underage decoys.
Selling tobacco or vapor products to anyone under 21, accepting fake ID without reasonable verification, or failing required cashier training can result in fines from $200 and license suspension or revocation.
See how Bridgeport's tobacco age restrictions rules stack up against other locations.
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