Methods: Legal research into the power of government to impose a tobacco retailer licensing law and best practices.

Results: Local tobacco retailer licensing can be an effective and meaningful solution to pervasive violations of tobacco control laws. Licensing laws in California require merchants to obtain a license before selling tobacco products. The license can be temporarily revoked if the merchant sells tobacco to a minor or violates other tobacco-related laws. A key to success is the imposition of a licensing fee that fully covers enforcement costs.

A licensing ordinance can also include additional policy restrictions, such as: Prohibiting: • mobile vending; • tobacco sales in bars and restaurants; • new specialty tobacco stores; • self-service tobacco displays; • tobacco ads in unlicensed stores; and Requiring clerks to: • be at least eighteen years of age; and • check the ID of tobacco customers appearing younger than 27 old.

Conclusions: This presentation describes how tobacco retailer licensing works and lays out a variety of innovative policies that can be included in an enhanced licensing ordinance.