CASPER, Wyo. — Under federal law, it is now illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone under 21.
However, Wyoming law is out of sync with this federal regulation, leading local police departments to say they are unable to enforce the federal rules.
The Wyoming Legislature will consider a bill during their up-coming budget session which would raise the legal age to purchase nicotine products to 21, bringing the state in line with federal rules.
The proposed legislation includes a number of other changes to existing Wyoming law.
It would replace the term “tobacco products” with the term “nicotine products.” Such products would include:
- cigarettes
- cigars
- pipe tobacco
- snuff
- chewing tobacco
- dipping tobacco
- electronic cigarettes
- vapor material
Fines for selling or giving nicotine products to people under 21 would be raised.
Currently, individuals or retailers selling or providing tobacco products to people under 18 can receive a $50 fine for a first offense and a $200 fine for a second violation in a two year period.
Those fines would be increased to $250 for a first violation and $500 for a second violation in a two year period under the proposed legislation.
People under the legal age attempting to purchase or purchasing tobacco products face the same first violation and second violation fines as sellers. Those fines would be increased in the same manner under the proposed bill.
Businesses selling nicotine products would be required to post public notices of the age restrictions.
Law enforcement would be authorized to have people under 21 attempt to purchase nicotine products for the purpose of inspecting whether businesses are following the law.
The proposed changes could impact the fiscal outlook for the state due possible decreases in tobacco sales. While this can’t be exactly determined, the Legislative Service Office provides a summary of possible fiscal impacts.
The bill is sponsored by the Joint Revenue Interim Committee.
If made into law, the rule changes under the bill would take effect July 1, 2020.
