Federal Tobacco 21 (Public Law 116-94) and Pennsylvania Act 112 of 2020 raised the minimum tobacco sales age to 21. Philadelphia Code section 9-630 enforces the same rule, requiring photo ID checks and barring vending-machine sales except in adult venues.
Since December 2019, the federal Tobacco 21 amendment to the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act made 21 the national minimum sales age for cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, and vapes. Pennsylvania conformed through Act 112 of 2020, amending 18 Pa.C.S.A. section 6305. Philadelphia retailers operating under Philadelphia Code section 9-630 must check government-issued photo identification for any buyer who appears under 27. Self-service vending is barred outside adult-only premises, and giveaways are prohibited. Department of Public Health inspectors run undercover compliance buys; multiple violations suspend the city Tobacco Retailer Permit. Federal FDA enforcement and the PA Attorney General can also pursue civil and criminal penalties.
Selling tobacco to a person under 21 in Philadelphia violates 18 Pa.C.S.A. section 6305 and Philadelphia Code section 9-630, with fines up to five hundred dollars per sale and permit suspension or revocation.
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