Tobacco and Vape Age Laws by State (2026)
How each state handles smoking and vaping age, from each state's code and official agencies.
| State | Smoking and vaping age |
|---|---|
| Alabama | The minimum age to buy, use, possess or transport tobacco, vapes (electronic nicotine delivery systems), e-liquid and alternative nicotine products in Alabama is 21; merely possessing a vape device is a violation for someone under 21, and using a fake ID to buy these products is also unlawful. A violation by someone under 19 is handled as a delinquent act in juvenile court. A first violation brings parent notification and a required vaping awareness and prevention class; a second brings a court-approved addiction or substance abuse course, and no court costs or fees may be charged. Ala. Code 1975 § 28-11-13(a), (c), (d) |
| Alaska | The Alaska Department of Health's tobacco enforcement page tells retailers that the minimum age to buy tobacco products, electronic smoking devices and products containing nicotine is 21, and that it is unlawful for a retailer to sell them to anyone younger than 21 under the federal Tobacco 21 law, which the FDA enforces. The page says retailers who violate the law can be fined and, if convicted, have their authorization to sell suspended. Alaska Department of Health, Division of Behavioral Health, Tobacco Enforcement and Education page |
| Arizona | In Arizona it is a petty offense to knowingly sell, give or furnish a tobacco product or alternative nicotine product to someone under 21. A person under 21 who buys or possesses these products commits a petty offense and must pay a fine of at least $100 or perform at least 30 hours of community restitution, and misrepresenting age to get them is a petty offense with a fine of up to $500. A.R.S. § 13-3622(A)-(C) |
| Arkansas | In Arkansas the minimum age to buy, use or possess tobacco, vapor products, alternative nicotine products and e-liquids is 21, except for people with a U.S. military ID and people who were already 19 by December 31, 2019. A minor may not use, possess or try to buy these products or use false proof of age, and products found on a minor may be confiscated and destroyed. Selling or giving these products to a minor is a Class A misdemeanor. Ark. Code § 5-27-227 |
| California | The minimum age to buy tobacco products in California is 21, and 'tobacco product' includes electronic cigarettes and other devices that deliver nicotine or vaporized liquids. Selling, giving or furnishing tobacco, tobacco products or smoking paraphernalia to someone under 21 is a misdemeanor or civil violation with fines of $200, $500 and $1,000 for an individual's first, second and third offenses, and $500, $1,000 and $5,000 for a business; enforcing agencies may also assess civil penalties from $1,000 up to at least $20,000 for repeat violations at a location. Active-duty military personnel 18 or older are exempt. Tobacco and nicotine use, including e-cigarettes, is banned on school district property and in school vehicles. Cal. Penal Code 308(a)(1), (f) (as amended by Stats. 2024, ch. 371, eff. Jan. 1, 2025); Bus. & Prof. Code 22950.5(d), 22958(a), 22963(a); Health & Safety Code 104559 |
| Colorado | The minimum age to buy cigarettes, tobacco products and nicotine products in Colorado, including electronic cigarettes and other vaping devices, is 21. Sellers must check a government-issued photo ID, and selling or giving these products to someone under 21 is a civil infraction with a $200 fine; local governments may set stricter rules but not a lower age. The section read sets no penalty on the minor for possession or use. C.R.S. § 18-13-121(1), (3), (5) |
| Connecticut | The minimum age to buy cigarettes, tobacco products, e-cigarettes and vapor products in Connecticut is 21. A seller who sells, gives or delivers tobacco to someone under 21 is fined up to $300 for a first offense, $750 for a second within 24 months and $1,000 for later offenses within 24 months; for e-cigarettes and vapor products the fine is up to $1,000 per offense (since July 1, 2025). A person under 21 who lies about their age to buy these products is fined up to $50 for a first offense and $50 to $100 for later offenses. Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 53-344(b), (c); 53-344b(b), (c) |
| Delaware | The minimum age to buy tobacco products and tobacco substitutes in Delaware is 21, and sellers must check photo ID for buyers under 30. Selling to someone under 18 is a violation fined $250, $500, then $1,000 for later offenses; selling to someone 18 to 20 carries civil penalties of the same amounts, and a seller's tobacco license may be suspended up to 6 months for repeat offenses within 12 months. The former section penalizing minors for buying or receiving tobacco (§ 1124) was repealed effective July 16, 2019. 11 Del. C. §§ 1115, 1116, 1121, 1124 (repealed) |
| District of Columbia | The minimum age to buy tobacco products in D.C. is 21, and 'tobacco product' includes electronic smoking devices and their liquids. Sellers must check proof of age for anyone who appears under 30, and a seller's tobacco license may be suspended for a first or second sale to someone under 21 and must be revoked for a third. People under 21 may not buy or possess tobacco products or use false ID to get them, but the section read states no penalty for the minor (its former penalty subsection (c) is repealed). D.C. Code §§ 7-1721.01(2A), 7-1721.02, 7-1721.03 |
| Florida | The minimum age to buy tobacco and nicotine (vaping) products in Florida is 21. Selling or giving them to someone under 21 is a second-degree misdemeanor, a first-degree misdemeanor for a second violation within 1 year, and for nicotine products a third-degree felony for a third violation. People under 21 who possess tobacco or nicotine products, or lie about their age to buy them, commit a noncriminal violation: 16 hours of community service or a $25 fine plus an anti-tobacco program for a first violation, and a $25 fine for a repeat within 12 weeks. Fla. Stat. §§ 569.101, 569.11, 569.41, 569.42 |
| Georgia | The minimum age to buy cigarettes, tobacco products, alternative nicotine products and vapor products in Georgia is 21. Knowingly selling them to someone under 21 is a misdemeanor; sellers must ask for ID when a reasonable person could doubt the buyer's age, and proper ID showing the buyer is 21 is a defense. A person under 21 who buys, tries to buy, possesses for personal use, or lies about age to get these products may be ordered to do up to 20 hours of community service, attend a free health-hazards lecture, or both; failing to complete community service or a third violation in a calendar year can bring a 45-day driver's license suspension. O.C.G.A. § 16-12-171 |
| Hawaii | The minimum age to buy tobacco products and electronic smoking devices in Hawaii is 21, and retailers must check ID for buyers who reasonably appear under 27. A seller who sells or gives these products to someone under 21 is fined $500 for a first offense and $500 to $2,000 for later offenses. A person under 21 who buys or possesses tobacco or an e-cigarette is fined $10 for a first offense and $50 (or 48 to 72 hours of community service) for later offenses, and the product is seized and forfeited. Haw. Rev. Stat. § 712-1258 |
| Idaho | The minimum age to buy tobacco products or electronic smoking devices (vapes) in Idaho is 21: the law defines a 'minor' as anyone under twenty-one. A minor who possesses, buys, uses or tries to buy them commits an infraction with a $17.50 fine. A minor who sells or distributes them or uses false identification commits an infraction with a $200 fine for a first violation and a misdemeanor (up to 30 days and/or $300) for a later violation; the court may also order an awareness program or community service. Idaho Code §§ 39-5702(9), 39-5703 |
| Illinois | The minimum age to buy tobacco products, electronic cigarettes (vapes) and alternative nicotine products in Illinois is 21. No one may sell, buy for, give samples of or furnish these products to anyone under 21, and sellers must check government photo ID of anyone who appears under 30 (online sellers must use third-party age verification). A seller who violates the age rules commits a petty offense with fines of $200, $400, $600 and $800 for first through fourth offenses within 24 months. A person under 21 who uses or displays a false or altered ID to get these products commits a Class A misdemeanor; the Act sets no penalty for a person under 21 merely possessing them. 720 ILCS 675/1(a), (a-5.1), (a-6); 720 ILCS 675/2(a), (a-5), (b) |
| Indiana | The minimum age to buy tobacco products and vapor devices (e-cigarettes) in Indiana is 21. Selling or distributing them to someone under 21, or buying them for someone under 21, is a Class B infraction; a retail establishment that sells tobacco to someone under 21 commits a Class C infraction with civil penalties of up to $400, $800, $1,400 and $2,000 for repeat violations within a year. A person under 21 who buys, accepts for personal use or possesses a tobacco product or vapor device, or carries a fake ID to buy one, commits a Class C infraction. IC 35-46-1-10(b); IC 35-46-1-10.2(b)-(c); IC 35-46-1-10.5(a), (c) |
| Iowa | The minimum age in Iowa to buy, use or possess tobacco, tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, vapor products or cigarettes is 21. A person under 21 who smokes, uses, possesses or tries to buy them faces a civil penalty of $70 for a first offense, $135 for a second and $325 for a third or later, plus 8, 12 or 16 hours of community work (the first can be waived by the court). Underage employees of permit holders may handle the products as part of their job. Iowa Code §§ 453A.2(2), (3), 453A.3(2), 805.8C(3)(c) (Iowa Code 2026) |
| Kansas | The minimum age to buy or possess cigarettes, electronic cigarettes (vapes) and tobacco products in Kansas is 21. A person under 21 who buys, tries to buy, possesses or tries to possess them commits a cigarette or tobacco infraction with a $25 fine, and the judge may require a juvenile to appear in court with a parent or guardian. Selling, giving or furnishing cigarettes or tobacco products to someone under 21, or buying for them, is a class B person misdemeanor with a minimum $200 fine. K.S.A. 79-3321(l), (m), (n); 79-3322(c), (d) |
| Kentucky | The minimum age to buy tobacco products, alternative nicotine products and vapor products in Kentucky is 21, and people under 21 may not possess or use them. A person under 21 who buys or tries to buy them, or uses a false ID, faces only confiscation of the product; no other penalty applies. A person under 21 found possessing or using them has the product confiscated and may be required to do community service or attend a tobacco cessation program. Retail sellers who sell to someone under 21 face a $100 fine for the clerk, owner fines of $500 (second citation) and $1,000 (third), and, on or after July 1, 2026, license revocation on a fourth citation. KRS 438.310, 438.311, 438.350 |
| Louisiana | The minimum age to buy tobacco, alternative nicotine products and vapor products (e-cigarettes) in Louisiana is 21. Selling to someone under 21, or an under-21 person buying, is punished by a fine of up to $50 for a first violation, rising to $100, $250 and then $400 for later violations. It is also unlawful for anyone under 21 to possess these products, punished by a fine of up to $50 per violation, except in a private residence, while working, or when a person under 18 is with a parent, spouse or guardian who is 21 or older. La. R.S. 14:91.8(C), (E), (F), (H) |
| Maine | The minimum age to buy tobacco products in Maine is 21, and 'tobacco products' include electronic smoking devices (e-cigarettes, vapes) and their liquids. Sellers must check photo ID for anyone under 30. A person under 21 who buys or tries to buy tobacco commits a civil violation and may be required to take tobacco education classes, join a diversion program or do community work; using false ID to buy tobacco is a civil violation with a fine of $100 to $300 for a first offense. Employers of clerks who sell to underage buyers face civil fines starting at $300. 22 M.R.S. §1555-B(2), (5-A), (5-C), (8); 22 M.R.S. §1551 |
| Maryland | The minimum age to buy tobacco products in Maryland is 21, and 'tobacco products' include electronic smoking devices (vapes) and the liquids used in them, whether or not they contain nicotine. A commercial seller may not sell or give tobacco products or paraphernalia to anyone under 21, must keep tobacco behind the counter, and must check government photo ID for anyone under 30; no one may buy tobacco for a person under 21. Selling to someone under 21 is a misdemeanor with fines up to $500 for a first violation, $1,000 for a second within two years and $3,000 for later ones (with license suspension or revocation for repeat violations by licensed retailers), or alternatively a civil citation with penalties up to $300, $1,000 and $3,000. Md. Code, Crim. Law §§10-101(d), 10-107; Health-Gen. §24-307 |
| Massachusetts | The minimum age to buy tobacco products in Massachusetts is 21, and 'tobacco products' include electronic cigarettes and other vaping and nicotine delivery products. No one may sell or provide a tobacco product to a person under 21. A violation is punished by a fine of $1,000 for a first offense, $2,000 for a second and $5,000 for a third or later offense. G.L. c. 270, §6(a), (b), (d) |
| Michigan | In Michigan, no one may sell, give or furnish a tobacco product, vapor product (e-cigarette) or alternative nicotine product to a person under 21, and sellers must check photo ID of buyers who appear under 27. A seller's violation is a misdemeanor with fines up to $100 for a first offense, $500 for a second and $2,500 for later offenses. A minor who buys, possesses or publicly uses tobacco products commits a misdemeanor with a fine of up to $50 and community service or a health promotion program; for vapor and alternative nicotine products, the first two violations are state civil infractions (fine up to $50) and a third is a misdemeanor. MCL 722.641; MCL 722.642 |
| Minnesota | The minimum age to buy tobacco, tobacco-related devices and electronic delivery devices (e-cigarettes and vapes) in Minnesota is 21. A person 21 or older who sells or furnishes them to someone under 21 commits a petty misdemeanor for a first violation and a misdemeanor for a repeat violation within five years. A person under 21 who buys or tries to buy them with a false or borrowed ID is subject only to alternative civil penalties (such as education, community service, diversion or cessation programs), which may not include fines. Minn. Stat. §609.685, subds. 1, 1a, 2, 2a |
| Mississippi | Mississippi law says no one under 21 may buy any tobacco or alternative nicotine (vape) product, and sellers may not sell or give vapes, e-cigarettes or their liquids to anyone under 21 (seller fines of $250, $500, then $1,000 per violation). The older tobacco-sales section in the same chapter, as shown in the code copy read, still bars selling tobacco products to anyone under 18, with fines of $50, $75 and $150. A person under 21 found by a court to have violated another statute while possessing tobacco or nicotine faces a $100 fine and up to 15 hours of community service for a first offense, $300 and up to 25 hours for a second, and $500 and up to 40 hours after that; the violation is not recorded on the minor's criminal history. Students may not possess tobacco or nicotine on school property. Miss. Code Ann. §§ 97-32-9, 97-32-51, 97-32-5 |
| Missouri | Missouri's own statutes set 18 as the minimum age: sellers must refuse sales of tobacco, alternative nicotine and vapor products to anyone under 18, with clerk fines of $25, $100 and then $250, and mail/internet sellers fined $250 and then $500. A person under 18 who buys, tries to buy or possesses these products, or lies about age to buy them, commits an infraction; the products are confiscated, and a second violation also requires a tobacco education or cessation program if available. (Federal law separately sets a nationwide minimum sale age of 21, which the state statutes read do not mention.) RSMo §§ 407.926, 407.931, 407.933 |
| Montana | Montana's own statutes set 18 as the minimum age to buy tobacco, alternative nicotine and vapor products: sellers may not sell or give them to anyone under 18 and must check photo ID if age is in doubt. A person under 18 who possesses or uses these products faces a $50 fine for a first offense, $75 to $100 for a second, and $100 to $250 after that, or may be handled in youth court as a youth in need of intervention, and may be required to do community service or attend a cessation program. Attempting to buy them under 18 carries a $50 fine, then up to $100. (Federal law separately sets a nationwide minimum sale age of 21.) MCA §§ 16-11-305, 45-5-637 |
| Nebraska | The minimum age to buy tobacco and vaping products in Nebraska is 21. Selling or giving tobacco, cigarettes, e-cigarettes (electronic nicotine delivery systems) or alternative nicotine products to anyone under 21 is a Class III misdemeanor for each offense. A person under 21 who smokes, vapes or uses tobacco commits a Class V misdemeanor ($100 fine), as does someone under 21 who lies about age to buy these products; a minor charged with use can avoid prosecution by giving evidence against the seller. Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 28-1418, 28-1419, 28-1427, 28-106 |
| Nevada | Nevada sets 21 as the minimum age for buying tobacco, vapor and alternative nicotine products. Retailers must post a notice that selling these products to anyone under 21 is prohibited by law (fine up to $100 for not posting), and knowingly selling cigarettes to someone under 21 over the internet, phone or other electronic network carries a civil penalty of up to $1,000 per violation plus possible license action. Cigarette vending machines may be placed only where people under 21 may not loiter. NRS 202.2493(2), 202.24935, 202.2494 |
| New Hampshire | The minimum age to buy tobacco, e-cigarettes, e-liquid and other nicotine products in New Hampshire is 21. Selling or giving these products to anyone under 21 is a civil infraction handled by the Liquor Commission against the licensee, plus a violation for a first offense and a misdemeanor for each later offense. People under 21 may not buy, try to buy, possess or use them, or lie about their age to buy them. Starting January 1, 2027, a person under 21 who violates this is guilty of a violation punishable by a fine of up to $100 and/or up to 20 hours of community service per offense, and someone 12 or older will not be treated as a delinquent or child in need of services. RSA 126-K:4, 126-K:6 (2026, 259:7, eff. Jan. 1, 2027) |
| New Jersey | The minimum age to buy tobacco products and electronic smoking devices (vapes) is 21. Selling or giving cigarettes, any tobacco, an e-cigarette or vape or its components, or a cannabis item to a person under 21 is a petty disorderly persons offense punished by a fine (twice that fine for a repeat), and sellers also face civil penalties of at least $500 for a first violation, $1,000 for a second and $2,000 for each later one, plus possible suspension or revocation of a retail tobacco license. A false ID shown by the buyer is a defense. N.J.S. 2C:33-13.1; N.J.S. 2A:170-51.4 |
| New Mexico | The minimum age to buy tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, is 21 under the Tobacco Products Act (SB 131, 2020), effective January 1, 2021. Retailers must be licensed by the Regulation and Licensing Department's Alcoholic Beverage Control Division, must verify age, and must post a sign stating that it is illegal for a person under 21 to purchase tobacco products. A licensee whose employee sells to someone under 21 generally faces a 1-day suspension and $1,000 fine for a first violation at a location, 7 days and $4,000 for a second within three years, 30 days and $7,000 for a third, and permanent license revocation for a fourth. 15.8.4.12, 15.8.5.10, 15.8.5.11, 15.8.6.9 NMAC (eff. Jan. 1, 2021) |
| New York | The minimum age to buy tobacco products, vapor products and e-cigarettes is 21: sellers may not sell them to individuals under twenty-one years of age. The section read sets no penalty on the young buyer; seller penalties are set in Public Health Law 1399-ee (not read). N.Y. Public Health Law 1399-cc(2) |
| North Carolina | North Carolina's own law sets the minimum age at 18: it is a Class 2 misdemeanor to sell or give tobacco products, vapor products (e-cigarettes), alternative nicotine products or cigarette wrapping papers to anyone under 18, or to fail to check ID of a buyer who may be under 18. A person under 18 who buys or accepts these products, tries to, or uses a false ID to do so also commits a Class 2 misdemeanor; a first-time minor may qualify for deferred prosecution or a conditional discharge. (Federal law separately sets a minimum sales age of 21.) G.S. 14-313 |
| North Dakota | The minimum age is 21. Selling or furnishing cigarettes, any tobacco, electronic smoking devices (vapes), alternative nicotine products or kratom to anyone under 21 is an infraction (fine up to $1,000), as is selling them from a self-service display outside a tobacco specialty store. For the young person, buying, possessing or using these products is a noncriminal offense at ages 18-20 and an infraction at ages 14-17; using a fake ID to buy them is a noncriminal offense. Cities and counties may adopt stricter local rules. N.D.C.C. 12.1-31-03(1), (2), (4), (5) |
| Ohio | The minimum age is 21. No one may give, sell or distribute cigarettes, other tobacco products, alternative nicotine products (including electronic smoking devices and vapor products) or rolling papers to anyone under 21, or without first verifying proof of age, and sellers must post a sign stating the age-21 rule. A child may not use, possess, buy, or try to buy tobacco products unless accompanied by a parent, spouse or guardian who is 21 or older, but a juvenile court may not adjudicate a child delinquent or unruly for this; a child who gives false identification to obtain tobacco may be ordered to perform up to 20 hours of community service. R.C. 2927.02(A), (B); R.C. 2151.87 |
| Oklahoma | The minimum age to buy tobacco, nicotine and vapor products in Oklahoma is 21. Sellers must check the ID of anyone who appears under 21; violations bring ABLE Commission administrative fines of up to $100, $200 and $300 for repeat offenses, with possible suspension of the store's license. Furnishing tobacco or vapor products to anyone under 21 is also a misdemeanor punishable by a $25 to $200 fine and 10 to 90 days in county jail. 63 O.S. § 1-229.13(A)-(C); 21 O.S. § 1241(A) |
| Oregon | The minimum age to buy tobacco products and inhalant delivery systems (vapes) in Oregon is 21. Selling them to someone under 21 is a specific fine violation with a fine of up to $50 for the clerk; supervising managers face fines of up to $250 (up to $500 from the third violation) and business owners up to $500 (up to $1,000 from the third). People under 21 may not buy or try to buy tobacco or vapes, though the statute sets no penalty for that. ORS 167.755, 167.760 |
| Pennsylvania | The minimum age to buy tobacco and vaping products (including e-cigarettes and other electronic nicotine delivery devices) in Pennsylvania is 21, or 18 for active-duty or reserve military members and honorably discharged veterans. Selling or furnishing them to an underage person is a summary offense with fines of $100 to $250 for a first offense, rising for repeats (retailers face up to $5,000 for a fourth offense). An underage person who buys or tries to buy tobacco, or lies about their age to get it, commits a summary offense punishable by up to 75 hours of community service, a tobacco cessation program and/or a fine of up to $200; it does not go on the person's criminal record. 18 Pa.C.S. § 6305(a), (a.1), (b), (d) |
| Rhode Island | The minimum age to buy tobacco and electronic nicotine-delivery (vaping) products in Rhode Island is 21; since April 1, 2026 the same ban covers kratom. Licensed sellers who sell to someone underage face civil fines of $250 (first violation in 36 months), $500 (second), $1,000 plus a 14-day license suspension (third) and $1,500 plus a 90-day suspension for each later violation. R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 11-9-13, 11-9-13.13(b) |
| South Carolina | South Carolina's statute still sets 18 as the minimum age: it is unlawful to sell, give or provide a tobacco product to anyone under 18, and sellers must demand proof of age for tobacco and alternative nicotine products. A seller who knowingly violates the law commits a misdemeanor with a $200 to $300 fine for a first offense and $400 to $500 and/or up to 30 days after that; retailers also face administrative fines and temporary sales bans. A minor who lies about their age to buy tobacco commits a noncriminal offense with a $25 civil fine (or a cessation program or up to 5 hours of community service), with no criminal record. S.C. Code § 16-17-500(A), (B), (E), (F) |
| South Dakota | The minimum age to buy tobacco products, including vapor products, in South Dakota is 21. It is a Class 2 misdemeanor (up to 30 days and/or $500) to sell or give tobacco to anyone under 21, to buy it for them, or for a person under 21 to buy, try to buy, possess or use it. Reasonable reliance on proof of age is a complete defense for the seller. SDCL 34-46-2, 34-46-5 |
| Tennessee | The minimum age to buy tobacco, smoking hemp, vapor products and smokeless nicotine products in Tennessee is 21; it is unlawful to sell or distribute them to, or buy them for, anyone under 21. A person under 21 may not possess, buy or accept these products or use false proof of age. A violation by a person under 21 is a civil offense, not a crime: the court may impose a civil penalty of $10 to $50 (charged to the parent, guardian or custodian of a minor), the product is seized as contraband, and for a second or later violation within one year the court may order up to 50 hours of community service or a court program. Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 39-17-1504(a), (b); 39-17-1505 |
| Texas | The minimum age to buy cigarettes, e-cigarettes and tobacco products in Texas is 21, except that a person 18 or older with a valid U.S. or state military ID may buy them. Selling or giving these products to someone under 21 is a Class C misdemeanor. A person under 21 who possesses, buys, uses or accepts them, or uses false ID to get them, commits an offense punishable by a fine of up to $100; the court must suspend the sentence and order an e-cigarette and tobacco awareness program (or 8 to 12 hours of community service), and a first offender who completes it has the case dismissed. Tex. Health & Safety Code §§ 161.082, 161.252, 161.253 |
| Utah | The minimum age to buy tobacco, e-cigarette and nicotine products in Utah is 21. A retail employee who sells them to someone under 21 commits a class A misdemeanor; anyone else who provides them to a person under 21 commits a class C misdemeanor, class B for a second offense and class A for a third. A person 18 to 20 who buys or possesses these products commits an infraction with a minimum $60 fine and a tobacco education or cessation program; a person under 18 receives a juvenile citation. Utah Code §§ 76-9-1104, 76-9-1106, 76-9-1116 |
| Vermont | The minimum age to buy tobacco products, tobacco substitutes (which include e-cigarettes and other nicotine products) and tobacco paraphernalia in Vermont is 21. A person who sells or furnishes them to someone under 21 faces a civil penalty of up to $150 for a first offense and $500 for later ones, and licensees face suspensions and administrative penalties. A person under 21 may not possess or buy them; the products may be confiscated, and one who uses false ID to buy them must choose up to 10 hours of community service or a youth tobacco cessation program (handled like a traffic violation). 7 V.S.A. §§ 1001(8), 1003(a), 1005, 1007 |
| Virginia | The minimum age to buy tobacco products and smokable hemp products in Virginia is 21. No one may sell to, buy for, or knowingly permit a purchase by someone under 21, and sellers must check photo ID; violations carry a civil penalty of $500 for a first violation and $2,500 for a repeat within three years, plus $100 against an employee who makes the sale. The version of the statute in effect since October 1, 2026 sets penalties for sellers and buyers-for-minors; it does not contain a penalty on minors for possession. Va. Code § 18.2-371.2 (effective October 1, 2026) |
| Washington | The minimum age to buy tobacco, alternative nicotine and vapor products in Washington is 21; selling or giving them to anyone under 21 is a gross misdemeanor (up to 364 days and/or $5,000). A person under 18 who buys, tries to buy or possesses cigarettes, tobacco or vapor products commits a class 3 civil infraction and may be required to do up to four hours of community service and be referred to a free smoking cessation program. RCW 26.28.080; 70.155.080; 70.345.140 |
| West Virginia | 21. No one may sell, give or furnish any tobacco product, which includes e-cigarettes and other vaping devices and their liquids, to a person younger than 21, and age must be verified by valid ID. Sellers face a $250 fine for a first offense, rising to up to $5,000 for repeat offenses; store clerks who are not managers get non-criminal, non-monetary penalties such as education classes or community service. West Virginia's tobacco article contains no penalty on the underage buyer for possession or use. W. Va. Code §§ 16-9A-2, 16-9A-3 |
| Wisconsin | Wisconsin state law still uses 18 (the federal minimum age of 21 is separate). Retailers and others may not sell or give cigarettes, nicotine products or tobacco products to anyone under 18; violations bring forfeitures of up to $500 and license suspensions for repeat violations. A person under 18 may not buy, try to buy or possess cigarettes, nicotine products or tobacco products (with narrow exceptions for retail employees and supervised compliance checks), and police must seize them; buying for someone under 18 is punished by a forfeiture up to $500 rising to up to $10,000 and 9 months for repeat violations. Vending-machine notices must state that a purchaser under 18 is subject to a forfeiture of up to $50. Wis. Stat. §§ 134.66(1)(f), (2)(a), (2)(b)2., (4)(a), 254.92 |
| Wyoming | 21. No one may sell, give or deliver nicotine products (tobacco products and e-cigarettes, including vapor liquid with nicotine or synthetic nicotine) to anyone under 21; fines run up to $250, $500 and $750 for repeat violations within 24 months, and repeat retailers can be barred from selling for up to 180 days. A person under 21 who buys, tries to buy, possesses or uses nicotine products commits a misdemeanor punishable by a $25 fine; the person is cited rather than arrested, and the court may allow community service or a cessation program instead. W.S. 14-3-301(a)(i), (v)-(vii), 14-3-302, 14-3-304, 14-3-305 |
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.