SALES RESTRICTIONS

The tobacco industry spends billions every year on advertising and promotion in the U.S., much of it devoted to retailer price discounts to reduce the price of cigarettes. Restricting commercial tobacco sales to brick-and-mortar retail, and regulating the products that can be sold, is often done through state and local tobacco retailer licensing laws, which can require a license before selling commercial tobacco products, and can suspend or revoke licenses for violations. These laws can reduce or restrict the number, location, density, and types of tobacco retail outlets; limit point-of-sale ad and product placement; specify which products can be sold; and require retailers to comply with other tobacco control measures.