For purposes of this Article, the following definitions shall apply:
DISTRIBUTE
A conveyance to the public by sale, barter, gift or sample.
MINOR
A person under the age of eighteen (18).
PROOF OF AGE
A driver's license or other generally accepted means of identification that contains a picture of the individual and appears on its face to be valid.
ROLLING PAPERS
Paper designed, manufactured, marketed or sold for use primarily as a wrapping or enclosure for tobacco which enables a person to roll loose tobacco into a smokeable cigarette.
SAMPLE
A tobacco product distributed to members of the general public at no cost or at nominal cost for product promotional purposes.
SAMPLING
The distribution to members of the general public of tobacco product samples.
TOBACCO PRODUCTS
Any substance containing tobacco leaf including, but not limited to, cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, snuff, chewing tobacco or dipping tobacco.
VENDING MACHINE
Any mechanical, electric or electronic self-service device which, upon insertion of money, tokens or any other form of payment, dispenses tobacco products.
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any person to sell, provide or distribute tobacco products to persons under eighteen (18) years of age.
B. 
All vending machines that dispense tobacco products shall be located within the unobstructed line of sight and under the direct supervision of an adult responsible for preventing persons less than eighteen (18) years of age from purchasing any tobacco product from such machine or shall be equipped with a lock-out device to prevent the machines from being operated until the person responsible for monitoring sales from the machines disables the lock. Such locking device shall be of a design that prevents it from being left in an unlocked condition and which will allow only a single sale when activated. A locking device shall not be required on machines that are located in areas where persons less than eighteen (18) years of age are not permitted or prohibited by law. An owner of an establishment whose vending machine is not in compliance with the provisions of this Subsection shall be subject to the penalties contained in Subsection (E) of this Section. A determination of non-compliance may be made by a local law enforcement agency or the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control. Nothing in this Section shall apply to a vending machine if located in a factory, private club or other location not generally accessible to the general public.
C. 
No person or entity shall sell, provide or distribute any tobacco product or rolling papers to any minor or sell any individual cigarettes to any person in this State. This Subsection shall not apply to the distribution by family members on property that is not open to the public.
D. 
Any person, including, but not limited to, a sales clerk, owner or operator, who violates Subsections (A), (B) or (C) of this Section or Section 210.550 of this Article shall be penalized as follows:
1. 
For the first (1st) offense, twenty-five dollars ($25.00);
2. 
For the second (2nd) offense, one hundred dollars ($100.00); and
3. 
For a third (3rd) and subsequent offense, two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00).
E. 
Any owner of the establishment where tobacco products are available for sale who violates Subsection (C) of this Section shall not be penalized pursuant to this Section if such person documents the following:
1. 
An in-house or other tobacco compliance employee training program was in place to provide the employee with information on the State and Federal regulations regarding tobacco sales to minors. Such training program must be attended by all employees who sell tobacco products to the general public;
2. 
A signed statement by the employee stating that the employee has been trained and understands the State laws and Federal regulations regarding the sale of tobacco to minors; and
3. 
Such in-house or other tobacco compliance training meets the minimum training criteria, which shall not exceed a total of ninety (90) minutes in length, established by the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control.
F. 
The exemption in Subsection (E) of this Section shall not apply to any person who is considered the general owner or operator of the outlet where tobacco products are available for sale if:
1. 
Four (4) or more violations per location of Subsection (C) of this Section occur within a one (1) year period; or
2. 
Such person knowingly violates or knowingly allows his/her employees to violate Subsection (C) of this Section.
G. 
If a sale is made by an employee of the owner of an establishment in violation of this Article, the employee shall be guilty of an offense established in Subsections (A), (B) and (C) of this Section. If a vending machine is in violation of Section 210.550, the owner of the establishment shall be guilty of an offense established in Subsections (C) and (D) of this Section. If a sample is distributed by an employee of a company conducting the sampling, such employee shall be guilty of an offense established in Subsections (C) and (D) of this Section.
H. 
A person cited for selling, providing or distributing any tobacco product to any individual less than eighteen (18) years of age in violation of Subsections (A), (B) or (C) of this Section shall conclusively be presumed to have reasonably relied on proof of age of the purchaser or recipient, and such person shall not be found guilty of such violation if such person raises and proves as an affirmative defense that:
1. 
Such individual presented a driver's license or other government-issued photo identification purporting to establish that such individual was eighteen (18) years of age or older.
I. 
Any person adversely affected by this Section may file an appeal with the Administrative Hearing Commission which shall be adjudicated pursuant to the procedures established in Chapter 621, RSMo.
A. 
No person less than eighteen (18) years of age shall purchase, attempt to purchase or possess cigarettes or other tobacco products unless such person is an employee of a seller of cigarettes or tobacco products and is in such possession to effect a sale in the course of employment or an employee of the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control for enforcement purposes pursuant to Subsection (5) of Section 407.934, RSMo.
B. 
Any person less than eighteen (18) years of age shall not misrepresent his/her age to purchase cigarettes or tobacco products.
C. 
Any person who violates the provisions of this Section shall be penalized as follows:
1. 
For the first (1st) violation, the person is guilty of an infraction and shall have any cigarettes or tobacco products confiscated;
2. 
For a second (2nd) violation and any subsequent violations, the person is guilty of an infraction, shall have any cigarettes or tobacco products confiscated and shall complete a tobacco education or smoking cessation program, if available.
[Ord. No. 5063, 10-3-2022]
A. 
Definition. "Vaporizing products" are electronic devices which employ a battery to power a heating chamber that converts a liquid solution containing tobacco-derived nicotine, through a non-combustive process, into a vapor or vapor-like mist. The definition includes electronic cigarettes, electronic cigars, electronic cigarillos, and electronic pipes, which are personal vaporizing products on which users inhale through a mouthpiece.
B. 
Distribution Of Vaporizing Products To Or Possession By Persons Under Eighteen (18) Years Of Age Prohibited.
1. 
A person, either directly or indirectly by an agent or employee, or by a vending machine owned by the person or located in the person's establishment, may not sell, offer for sale, give, or furnish any vaporizing product or any component to a person under eighteen (18) years of age.
2. 
Before selling, offering for sale, giving, or furnishing any vaporizing product, or any cartridge or component of any vaporizing product, to another person, the person selling, offering for sale, giving or furnishing the vaporizing product shall verify that the person is at least eighteen (18) years of age by examining from any person that appears to be under twenty-seven (27) years of age a government-issued photographic identification that establishes the person is at least eighteen (18) years of age.
3. 
No minor under eighteen (18) years of age shall possess, purchase or attempt to purchase any vaporizing product. In the furtherance, or facilitation of obtaining any vaporizing product, no minor shall display or use a false or forged identification card or transfer, alter, or deface an identification card.
C. 
Penalties.
1. 
Any person who violates Subsection (B)(1), (2) or (3) of this Act is guilty of an offense and for the first offense shall be fined two hundred dollars ($200.00), three hundred fifty dollars ($350.00) for the second offense in a twelve (12) month period, and five hundred dollars ($500.00) for the third or any subsequent offense in a twelve (12) month period.
2. 
If a minor violates Subsection (B)(3) he or she is guilty of a petty offense and the court may impose a sentence of four (4) hours of community service, a fine of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) plus court costs and/or completion of a diversion program.
3. 
A second violation by a minor of Subsection (B)(3) that occurs within twelve (12) months after the first violation is punishable by eight (8) hours of community service, a fine of fifty dollars ($50.00) plus court costs and/or completion of a diversion program.
4. 
A third or subsequent violation by a minor of Subsection (B)(3) that occurs within twelve (12) months after the first violation is punishable by a one hundred dollar ($100.00) fine and court costs, twelve (12) hours of community service and/or completion of a diversion program.
5. 
Any second or subsequent violation not within the twelve (12) month time period after the first violation is punishable as provided for a first violation.
D. 
The provisions of this Act are severable. In the event that any provision of this Act or the application of any provision of this Act is held invalid by a court of law, the invalidity shall not affect any other provisions of the Act or the application of any other provision of the Act that can be given effect without the invalid provisions or application of the invalid provisions.
No person shall sell cigarettes or tobacco products unless the person has a retail sales tax license.
A. 
The owner of an establishment at which tobacco products or rolling papers are sold at retail or through vending machines shall cause to be prominently displayed in a conspicuous place at every display from which tobacco products are sold and on every vending machine where tobacco products are purchased a sign that shall:
1. 
Contain in red lettering at least one-half (½) inch high on a white background the following:
"IT IS A VIOLATION OF STATE LAW FOR CIGARETTES OR OTHER TOBACCO PRODUCTS TO BE SOLD OR OTHERWISE PROVIDED TO ANY PERSON UNDER THE AGE OF EIGHTEEN OR FOR SUCH PERSON TO PURCHASE, ATTEMPT TO PURCHASE OR POSSESS CIGARETTES OR OTHER TOBACCO PRODUCTS"; and
2. 
Include a depiction of a pack of cigarettes at least two (2) inches high defaced by a red diagonal diameter of a surrounding red circle and the words "Under 18".
A. 
No person or entity shall sell individual packs of cigarettes or smokeless tobacco products unless such packs satisfy one (1) of the following conditions prior to the time of sale:
1. 
It is sold through a vending machine; or
2. 
It is displayed behind the checkout counter or it is within the unobstructed line of sight of the sales clerk or store attendant from the checkout counter.
A. 
A person or entity selling tobacco products or rolling papers or distributing tobacco product samples shall require proof of age from a prospective purchaser or recipient if an ordinary person would conclude on the basis of appearance that such prospective purchaser or recipient may be under the age of eighteen (18).
B. 
The operator's or chauffeur's license issued pursuant to the provisions of Section 302.177, RSMo., or the operator's or chauffeur's license issued pursuant to the laws of any State or possession of the United States to residents of those States or possessions, or an identification card as provided for in Section 302.181, RSMo., or the identification card issued by any uniformed service of the United States, or a valid passport shall be presented by the holder thereof upon request of any agent of the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control or any owner or employee of an establishment that sells tobacco for the purpose of aiding the registrant, agent or employee to determine whether or not the person is at least eighteen (18) years of age when such person desires to purchase or possess tobacco products procured from a registrant. Upon such presentation, the owner or employee of the establishment shall compare the photograph and physical characteristics noted on the license, identification card or passport with the physical characteristics of the person presenting the license, identification card or passport.
C. 
Any person who shall, without authorization from the Department of Revenue, reproduce, alter, modify or misrepresent any chauffeur's license, motor vehicle operator's license or identification card shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be subject to a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00), and confinement for not more than one (1) year, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
D. 
Reasonable reliance on proof of age or on the appearance of the purchaser or recipient shall be a defense to any action for a violation of Subsections (A), (B) and (C) of Section 210.535 of this Article. No person shall be liable for more than one (1) violation of Subsections (B) and (C) of Section 210.535 on any single day.