Adolescent Tobacco Use Prevention Act
The Adolescent Tobacco Use Prevention Act (ATUPA) is a State law creating an enforcement program aimed at reducing the accessibility of tobacco products to youth under 18 years of age.
Under ATUPA, youth ages 15-17 are trained to conduct compliance inspections with Department of Health staff members to ascertain if vendors are selling tobacco products to underage youth. Those vendors found to be in violation are given hearing notices and, if found guilty after a hearing, are fined. Every tobacco vendor in Orange County receives a compliance inspection yearly. Should a vendor sell tobacco or herbal cigarettes to anyone under the age of 18, they risk fines of up to $2,500, loss of certificate of registration to sell tobacco or herbal cigarettes and the loss of their lottery license.
It is also important for vendors to know that tobacco products and herbal cigarettes cannot be sold, offered for sale, or displayed for sale unless they are in a locked container, or behind a counter in a place accessible only to store personnel. Violations can result in fines up to $2,500 and the loss of tobacco sale registration, and lottery license.
Additional Information
For more information on:
- Free vendor training for Orange County businesses on how to comply with ATUPA. Training is available for out-of-County businesses for $50 per person.
- Free signage ("Sale of cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, powdered tobacco, or other tobacco products, herbal cigarettes, rolling papers or pipes to persons under eighteen years of age is prohibited by law.")
In addition please call the Community Health Outreach office at 845-568-5237.