Tobacco Retailer Signage

Louisiana ACT No. 403 changes the state minimum age of sale of tobacco products from 18 to 21 years to align with federal law. The Act also amends the language of R.S. 14:91.8 to “point of sale” rather than “point of purchase” signage. The signs must be displayed “in a manner conspicuous to both employees and consumers, within any location where tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, vapor products or vapor paraphernalia and devices are available for purchase.” The signage must still include the Quit With Us, Louisiana phone number – 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) – and website address, www.quitwithusla.org.

The change from Louisiana ACT 403 went into effect August 1, 2021. After this date, tobacco point-of-sale signage that does not include the new required language regarding Quit With Us, Louisiana will be incompliant.

Louisiana ACT No. 188 amends the language on the signage that tobacco retailers are required to display at the point of sale in both retail outlets and on vending machines per R.S. 14:91.8.

Louisiana Revised Statute 14:91.8 is known as the “Prevention of Youth Access to Tobacco Law.” This law sets the minimum legal sales age for tobacco products and defines what signage must be posted at the point of sale for all places that sell tobacco products.

The law previously required signage to contain the following language in at least 30-point type in retail outlets and 22-point type on vending machines: “LOUISIANA LAW PROHIBITS THE SALE OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS, ALTERNATIVE NICOTINE PRODUCTS, OR VAPOR PRODUCTS TO PERSONS UNDER AGE 18.”

During the 2018 legislative session, Louisiana ACT No. 188 amended R.S. 14:91.8 to add the following language to section C (which defines the required signage for tobacco retailers) and section D (which defines the required signage for tobacco vending machines): “The sign shall also include a notice that displays the telephone number for the Louisiana Tobacco Quitline (1- 800-QUIT-NOW) and the website for the Louisiana Tobacco Quitline (www.quitwithusla.org), as determined by the state department of health.”

The Louisiana Department of Health has determined that the language to be added must read: “For assistance in quitting smoking call: 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) or visit www.quitwithusla.org.”

The change from Louisiana ACT 188 went into effect November 1, 2018. After this date, tobacco point-of-sale signage that does not include the new required language regarding Quit With Us, Louisiana will be incompliant.

Print-ready signage is available for download above in multiple size options that are all compliant. All signage can be printed on a personal printer on regular paper or brought to a local print shop for additional print options (printing on card stock, lamination, poster size printing, etc.).

No, We Card signage does NOT meet the requirements of R.S. 14:91.8. If your retail outlet or vending machine only posts We Card signage and not the signage required by Louisiana law, it will be found incompliant.

R.S. 14:91.8 requires retailers to post the new required signage at the “point of sale.” Point of sale is defined as the area where customers “checkout” or where the retail transaction is completed. To comply with Louisiana law, signage must be posted in a location (or multiple locations) where patrons can easily see and read the text while at the point of sale.

The Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control (ATC) is the enforcing agency. ATC will enforce the requirement by conducting regular checks using uniformed ATC agents, plain clothes ATC agents and ATC operatives in plain clothes.

The Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco (ATC) will enforce the requirement by conducting regular checks using uniformed ATC agents, plain clothes ATC agents and ATC operatives in plain clothes.

R.S. 14:91.8 states that “a person who violates the provisions of the law by selling or buying tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, or vapor products shall be fined not more than fifty dollars for the first violation. The penalties for subsequent violations shall be a fine of not more than one hundred dollars for the second violation, a fine of not more than two hundred fifty dollars for the third violation, and a fine of not more than four hundred dollars for any violation thereafter.”

Quit With Us, Louisiana is a partnership between Well-Ahead Louisiana, an initiative of the Louisiana Department of Health, and the Louisiana Public Health Institute’s Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living. Together we are committed to helping Louisiana residents live tobacco-free lives by connecting them to cessation counselors and providing community resources to help them quit. For more information, visit www.quitwithusla.org.

The website, www.quitwithusla.org, is Louisiana’s official website for tobacco cessation resources. It includes a wealth of resources for those wanting to quit and for healthcare providers.

Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in our country, killing 443,000 Americans and 6,500 Louisianans each year. For every person who dies from tobacco use, another 20 suffer from one or more serious smoking-related illnesses. Breathing in secondhand smoke is also harmful. In Louisiana, approximately 1,000 children and adults die each year from secondhand smoke exposure. Posting the Quit With Us, Louisiana phone number (1-800-QUIT-NOW) at the point of sale is an inexpensive and visible way to share information about cessation services. Requiring the posting of the Quit With Us, Louisiana phone number and website information in retail stores is a recommended tobacco control strategy with evidence of effectiveness. Promotion of Quit With Us, Louisiana in all tobacco retail outlets and on tobacco vending machines can also increase awareness of and access to cessation resources for communities and populations in hard-to-reach areas of our state.

If you have any questions, contact the Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control (ATC) at 225-925‐4041.