Federal Tobacco 21 (Public Law 116-94) and Arizona Senate Bill 1009 (ARS section 36-798.03) bar Maricopa County retailers from selling cigarettes, cigars, vapes, or any tobacco product to anyone under twenty-one. Photo ID is mandatory for buyers appearing under twenty-seven.
Federal Tobacco 21 raised the national minimum tobacco sales age to twenty-one in December 2019. Arizona codified the same age in 2020 through Senate Bill 1009, amending ARS sections 36-798 and 36-798.03 to cover cigarettes, cigars, hookah, smokeless tobacco, and vapor products including disposable e-cigs. Maricopa County retailers must check government-issued photo identification for any buyer who appears younger than twenty-seven, post required age signage, and bar self-service displays of vapor products. The Arizona Department of Health Services and the FDA conduct undercover compliance checks across the county; repeat violations can suspend the state ADHS retailer license and trigger civil penalties under ARS section 36-798.03.
Selling tobacco or vapes to a person under twenty-one is a class three misdemeanor under ARS section 36-798.03, plus civil penalties and possible suspension of the ADHS retailer license on repeat offenses.
See how Surprise's tobacco age restrictions rules stack up against other locations.
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