New York Public Health Law Section 1399-aa sets the minimum age for tobacco, vape, and nicotine product sales at 21 statewide. SCDHS and the State conduct compliance checks at Suffolk retailers.
Under New York Public Health Law Section 1399-aa, no person under 21 may be sold cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, e-cigarettes, vape products, or other nicotine products. The law applies to every retailer in Suffolk County, including gas stations, smoke shops, and vape stores. Retailers must check government-issued photo ID for any buyer who appears under 30 and post required age signage. SCDHS Office of Health Education runs the Adolescent Tobacco Use Prevention Act compliance check program in coordination with NY State Department of Health, conducting underage decoy purchases. Local Suffolk County Code Chapter 766 layers additional restrictions on tobacco-product placement in retail settings.
Sales to anyone under 21, missing age signage, or failure to verify ID can lead to PHL fines starting at hundreds of dollars per violation, escalating with each offense and risking license revocation.
See how Islip's tobacco age restrictions rules stack up against other locations.
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