North Carolina enforces a minimum age of 21 to purchase tobacco, vapor products, and e-cigarettes under NCGS 14-313, aligning with the federal Tobacco 21 law.
NCGS 14-313 prohibits the distribution, sale, or furnishing of tobacco products, tobacco derivatives, vapor products, and cigarette wrappers to any person under 21 years of age. The statute applies to retailers, employees, and any adult who purchases on behalf of an underage person. Retailers must demand identification from any purchaser who appears under 30. The law was updated to mirror the federal Tobacco 21 law, which raised the minimum age from 18 to 21 nationwide in December 2019.
First-offense sale to a person under 21 is a Class 2 misdemeanor punishable by fines; repeat offenses can result in higher fines and retail license suspension or revocation.
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