Laws of New York
Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death. State and local government regulation of these deadly products is warranted and necessary to prevent consumers from starting tobacco use and support addicted users trying to quit. Accordingly, New York State and its municipalities have enacted measures regulating tobacco product use and sales. These policies foster New York’s tobacco-free norm, and counter tobacco companies’ efforts to present tobacco use as a reasonable and appealing choice.
Click the hyperlinks below to visit our summaries of pertinent laws of New York State and New York City, and visit our resources describing current tobacco controls in the state and progressive local tobacco controls regulating the tobacco retail environment. Our Story Map further reflects relevant local point-of-sale policies enacted in New York State.
New York State Law
Tobacco Controls Enacted through the NYS FY2021 Budget
2019 Executive Actions on E-cigarettes
Adolescent Tobacco Use Prevention Act
Clean Indoor Air Act (regulates tobacco use both indoors and outdoors)
Tax Law (includes dealer registration)
Cigarette Minimum Price Law
Miscellaneous New York State Tobacco Laws
New York State statutes (Click on “PBH” for the Public Health Code.)
For information on bills that have been introduced in the New York State Assembly, visit the Assembly’s website or the State Senate’s website.
New York City Law
Resources:
A Citizen's Guide to New York Tobacco Controls
Guide providing an overview of current federal and New York state tobacco controls, as well as contact information for their appropriate enforcement agencies.
Point of Sale Policy: New York Communities Taking Action
Guide identifying progressive local tobacco controls that limit tobacco industry influence in the retail environment.
Featured Resource
Twitter Feed
A retail association's attempt to exploit the pandemic to delay enforcement of Massachusetts' flavored tobacco law is rejected by @MassGovernor--the lifesaving measure will take effect next week as planned.
https://www.wbur.org/commonhealth/2020/05/27/flavored-tobacco-ban-baker
Nicotine products marketed as "tobacco-free" have the potential to confuse consumers and regulators, and undermine state and local tobacco controls.
https://cstoredecisions.com/2020/05/19/smokeless-tobacco-alternatives/
Starting today, menthol cigarettes are prohibited in the European Union and United Kingdom. It's long past time for @FDATobacco to take action--the evidence is clear that menthol eases smoking initiation and prolongs addiction. https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/health/menthol-cigarettes-ban-uk-date-a4426191.html