Purpose

Tobacco use is one of the main causes of disease, death, and suffering in Utah. In addition to its considerable impact on the health of Utahns, tobacco use poses a significant economic burden.

Preventing those younger than 21 from using tobacco products is critical since most tobacco addictions begin before that age.

About ninety-five percent of adult smokers begin smoking before they turn 21 – and tobacco retailers can help drive that number down by preventing access to tobacco and nicotine products. Research shows the following statistics in Utah:

4,300 Utah high school students smoke cigarettes.
More than 70% of Utah youth who tried tobacco started with vape products.
1,340 Utahns die each year as a result of cigarette smoking.
$542 million in smoking-related health care costs are incurred in Utah each year.
$294 million is lost due to lost worker productivity each year.

The benefits for retailers of complying with Utah’s tobacco laws:

Employees and owners won’t get fined, be charged with a crime or lose their job.
Employees and owners may gain the respect of the community.
Employees and owners may be rewarded by their local health department or manager.
Employees and owners may help reduce the number of youth who may become addicted to tobacco.
Fewer individuals younger than 21 will target tobacco retailers for illegal purchases.

In Utah it is illegal for individuals to sell, offer, and buy tobacco products, electronic cigarette products, and nicotine products through the mail, internet, or telephone without a proper license issued by the Utah State Tax Commission.

All Utah tobacco retailers are prohibited from selling or distributing tobacco products, electronic cigarette products, and nicotine products through the mail, internet, or telephone.

For more information, see Utah Code § 59-14-509, § 59-14-808, § 76-10-105.1, § 76-10-104.

Click here to report an illegal sale or distribution of a tobacco product, electronic cigarette product or nicotine product. Complaints can be submitted anonymously. For questions, please contact TPCP Retail and Compliance Specialist Camille Jessop at cjessop@utah.gov.

The information on this site is an overview of Utah’s tobacco related laws. We hope this information will help tobacco retailers make responsible business decisions. Please contact the local health department’s tobacco prevention and control program with any questions.

*This site does not contain all of the tobacco regulations your business may need to comply with.

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates tobacco products at the federal level, and
Many counties and cities have their own ordinances.

Please seek out these sources for more information on potential tobacco control related regulations.

The information on this site is for educational purposes only and does not represent legal advice. Although the Utah Department of Health will make every effort to ensure this guidance remains current, the department does not represent that every reference to a statute or regulation is up-to-date. Please consult with legal counsel if there are questions about a specific set of circumstances and how to comply with the law.

Way to Quit

More than 70% of Utah smokers plan to quit smoking within a year. Tobacco users are more likely to quit for good when they use proven counseling programs and/or quit medications.

Way to Quit offers free help to Utah residents in finding their best way to quit through its website, waytoquit.org; telephone-based counseling through the Utah Tobacco Quit Line (1.800.QUIT.NOW); and online coaching. Young adults can text START to 36072 to sign up for coaching via text messaging.

My Life My Quit is a vaping/tobacco cessation service specially designed to assist Utah teens age 13 to 17. Parental consent is collected at the time services are requested. More information can be found at MyLifeMyQuit.org.

A little inspiration goes a long way. If you’re somebody who has quit using tobacco products, help inspire others to do the same by sharing your quit story here: https://waytoquit.org/share-your-quit/.

Disclaimer: Any information submitted on this website may be shared with other government entities as permitted by law, including local health departments, for the purposes of investigation and enforcement.