YOUTH TOBACCO ACT

MCL ch. 722, subtit. Act 31 of 1915

in effect

MCL 722.641 Selling, giving, or furnishing tobacco products, vapor products, or alternative nicotine products to minor prohibited; misdemeanor; penalty; sign required; copies of sign; affirmative defense; notice; rebuttal testimony; notice of rebuttal; exception; identity and age verification requirements.

722.641. Selling, giving, or furnishing tobacco products, vapor products, or alternative nicotine products to minor prohibited; misdemeanor; penalty; sign required; copies of sign; affirmative defense; notice; rebuttal testimony; notice of rebuttal; exception; identity and age verification requirements. Sec. 1. (1) A person shall not sell, give, or furnish a tobacco product, vapor product, or alternative nicotine product to a minor, including, but not limited to, through a vending machine. A person who violates this subsection or subsection (8) is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine as follows: (a) For a first offense, not more than $100.00. (b) For a second offense, not more than $500.00. (c) For a third or subsequent offense, not more than $2,500.00. (2) A person who sells tobacco products, vapor products, or alternative nicotine products at retail shall post, in a place close to the point of sale and conspicuous to both employees and customers, a sign produced by the department of health and human services that includes the following statement: "The purchase of a tobacco product, vapor product, or alternative nicotine product by a minor under 21 years of age and the provision of a tobacco product, vapor product, or alternative nicotine product to a minor are prohibited by law. A minor who unlawfully purchases or uses a tobacco product, vapor product, or alternative nicotine product is subject to criminal penalties.". (3) If the sign required under subsection (2) is more than 6 feet from the point of sale, it must be 5-1/2 inches by 8-1/2 inches and the statement required under subsection (2) must be printed in 36-point boldfaced type. If the sign required under subsection (2) is 6 feet or less from the point of sale, it must be 2 inches by 4 inches and the statement required under subsection (2) must be printed in 20-point boldfaced type. (4) The department of health and human services shall produce the sign required under subsection (2) and have adequate copies of the sign ready for distribution to licensed wholesalers, secondary wholesalers, and unclassified acquirers of tobacco products and to persons who sell vapor products or alternative nicotine products at retail free of charge. Licensed wholesalers, secondary wholesalers, and unclassified acquirers of tobacco products shall obtain copies of the sign from the department of health and human services and distribute them free of charge, upon request, to persons who sell tobacco products and who are subject to subsection (2). The department of health and human services shall provide copies of the sign free of charge, upon request, to persons subject to subsection (2) who do not purchase their supply of tobacco products from wholesalers, secondary wholesalers, and unclassified acquirers of tobacco products licensed under the tobacco products tax act, 1993 PA 327, MCL 205.421 to 205.436, and to persons who sell vapor products or alternative nicotine products at retail. (5) It is an affirmative defense to a charge under subsection (1) that the defendant had in force at the time of arrest and continues to have in force a written policy to prevent the sale of tobacco products, vapor products, or alternative nicotine products, as applicable, to individuals less than 21 years of age and that the defendant enforced and continues to enforce the policy. A defendant who proposes to offer evidence of the affirmative defense described in this subsection shall file notice of the defense, in writing, with the court and serve a copy of the notice on the prosecuting attorney. The defendant shall serve the notice not less than 14 days before the date set for trial. (6) A prosecuting attorney who proposes to offer testimony to rebut the affirmative defense described in subsection (5) shall file a notice of rebuttal, in writing, with the court and serve a copy of the notice on the defendant. The prosecuting attorney shall serve the notice not less than 7 days before the date set for trial and shall include in the notice the name and address of each rebuttal witness. (7) Subsection (1) does not apply to the handling or transportation of a tobacco product, vapor product, or alternative nicotine product by a minor under the terms of the minor's employment. (8) Before selling, offering for sale, giving, or furnishing a tobacco product, vapor product, or alternative nicotine product to an individual, a person shall verify that the individual is at least 21 years of age by doing 1 of the following: (a) If the individual appears to be less than 27 years of age, examining a government-issued photographic identification that establishes that the individual is at least 21 years of age. (b) For sales made by the internet or other remote sales method, performing an age verification through an independent, third-party age verification service that compares information available from a commercially available database, or aggregate of databases, that are regularly used by government agencies and businesses for the purpose of age and identity verification to the personal information entered by the individual during the ordering process that establishes that the individual is 21 years of age or older. 1915, Act 31, Eff. Aug. 24, 1915; CL 1915, 5185; CL 1929, 12826; CL 1948, 722.641; Am. 1972, Act 29, Imd. Eff. Feb. 19, 1972; Am. 1988, Act 314, Eff. Mar. 30, 1989; Am. 2006, Act 236, Eff. Sept. 1, 2006; Am. 2019, Act 18, Eff. Sept. 2, 2019; Am. 2022, Act 167, Imd. Eff. July 21, 2022

MCL 722.642 Prohibited conduct by minor for tobacco products, vapor products, or alternative nicotine products; violation and penalties; participation in health promotion and risk reduction assessment program; costs; community service; exceptions; other violations.

722.642. Prohibited conduct by minor for tobacco products, vapor products, or alternative nicotine products; violation and penalties; participation in health promotion and risk reduction assessment program; costs; community service; exceptions; other violations. Sec. 2. (1) Subject to subsection (6), a minor shall not do any of the following: (a) Purchase or attempt to purchase a tobacco product. (b) Possess or attempt to possess a tobacco product. (c) Use a tobacco product in a public place. (d) Present or offer to an individual a purported proof of age that is false, fraudulent, or not actually his or her own proof of age for the purpose of purchasing, attempting to purchase, possessing, or attempting to possess a tobacco product. (2) An individual who violates subsection (1) is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $50.00 for each violation. Pursuant to a probation order, the court may also require an individual who violates subsection (1) to participate in a health promotion and risk reduction assessment program, if available. In addition, an individual who violates subsection (1) is subject to the following: (a) For the first violation, the court may order the individual to do 1 of the following: (i) Perform not more than 16 hours of community service. (ii) Participate in a health promotion and risk reduction assessment program. (b) For a second violation, in addition to participation in a health promotion and risk reduction assessment program, the court may order the individual to perform not more than 32 hours of community service. (c) For a third or subsequent violation, in addition to participation in a health promotion and risk reduction assessment program, the court may order the individual to perform not more than 48 hours of community service. (3) Subject to subsection (6), a minor shall not do any of the following: (a) Purchase or attempt to purchase a vapor product or alternative nicotine product. (b) Possess or attempt to possess a vapor product or alternative nicotine product. (c) Use a vapor product or alternative nicotine product in a public place. (d) Present or offer to an individual a purported proof of age that is false, fraudulent, or not actually his or her own proof of age for the purpose of purchasing, attempting to purchase, possessing, or attempting to possess a vapor product or alternative nicotine product. (4) An individual who violates subsection (3) is responsible for a state civil infraction or guilty of a misdemeanor as follows: (a) For the first violation, the individual is responsible for a state civil infraction and shall be fined not more than $50.00. The court may order the individual to participate in a health promotion and risk reduction assessment program, if available. In addition, the court may order the individual to perform not more than 16 hours of community service. (b) For the second violation, the individual is responsible for a state civil infraction and shall be fined not more than $50.00. The court may order the individual to participate in a health promotion and risk reduction assessment program, if available. In addition, the court may order the individual to perform not more than 32 hours of community service. (c) If a violation of subsection (3) occurs after 2 or more prior judgments, the individual is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $50.00 for each violation. Pursuant to a probation order, the court may also require the individual to participate in a health promotion and risk reduction assessment program, if available. In addition, the court may order the individual to perform not more than 48 hours of community service. (5) An individual who is ordered to participate in a health promotion and risk reduction assessment program under subsection (2) or (4) is responsible for the costs of participating in the program. (6) Subsections (1) and (3) do not apply to a minor participating in any of the following: (a) An undercover operation in which the minor purchases or receives a tobacco product, vapor product, or alternative nicotine product under the direction of the minor's employer and with the prior approval of the local prosecutor's office as part of an employer-sponsored internal enforcement action. (b) An undercover operation in which the minor purchases or receives a tobacco product, vapor product, or alternative nicotine product under the direction of the state police or a local police agency as part of an enforcement action, unless the initial or contemporaneous purchase or receipt of the tobacco product, vapor product, or alternative nicotine product by the minor was not under the direction of the state police or the local police agency and was not part of the undercover operation. (c) Compliance checks in which the minor attempts to purchase tobacco products for the purpose of satisfying federal substance abuse block grant youth tobacco access requirements, if the compliance checks are conducted under the direction of a substance use disorder coordinating agency and with the prior approval of the state police or a local police agency. (7) Subsections (1) and (3) do not apply to the handling or transportation of a tobacco product, vapor product, or alternative nicotine product by a minor under the terms of the minor's employment. (8) This section does not prohibit an individual from being charged with, convicted of, or sentenced for any other violation of law that arises out of the violation of subsection (1) or (3). 1915, Act 31, Eff. Aug. 24, 1915; CL 1915, 5186; CL 1929, 12827; CL 1948, 722.642; Am. 1972, Act 29, Imd. Eff. Feb. 19, 1972; Am. 1988, Act 314, Eff. Mar. 30, 1989; Am. 2006, Act 236, Eff. Sept. 1, 2006; Am. 2019, Act 18, Eff. Sept. 2, 2019

MCL 722.642a Selling cigarette separately prohibited; exception; violation as misdemeanor; penalty.

722.642a. Selling cigarette separately prohibited; exception; violation as misdemeanor; penalty. Sec. 2a. (1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (2), a person who sells tobacco products at retail shall not sell a cigarette separately from its package. (2) Subsection (1) does not apply to a person who sells tobacco products at retail in a tobacco specialty retail store or other retail store that deals exclusively in the sale of tobacco products and smoking paraphernalia. (3) A person who violates subsection (1) is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not more than $500.00 for each offense. Add. 1992, Act 272, Imd. Eff. Dec. 16, 1992

MCL 722.642b Selling liquid nicotine container that doesn’t meet child-resistant standards prohibited; violation as misdemeanor; penalty; definitions.

722.642b. Selling liquid nicotine container that doesn’t meet child-resistant standards prohibited; violation as misdemeanor; penalty; definitions. Sec. 2b. (1) A person shall not sell in this state a liquid nicotine container unless the liquid nicotine container meets the child-resistant effectiveness standards of 16 CFR 1700.15(b). (2) A person who violates subsection (1) is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $50.00 for each violation. (3) As used in this section: (a) "Liquid nicotine" means a liquid or other substance containing nicotine in any concentration that is sold, marketed, or intended for use in a noncombustible product that employs a heating element, power source, electronic circuit, or other electronic, chemical, or mechanical means, regardless of shape or size, that can be used to produce vapor from nicotine or any other substance, and the use or inhalation of which simulates smoking. (b) "Liquid nicotine container" means a bottle or other container holding liquid nicotine in any concentration but does not include a cartridge containing liquid nicotine if the cartridge is prefilled and sealed by the manufacturer of the cartridge and is not intended to be opened by the consumer. Add. 2019, Act 17, Eff. Sept. 2, 2019

MCL 722.642c Requirements for selling and displaying of vapor products; violation as civil infraction; fine.

722.642c. Requirements for selling and displaying of vapor products; violation as civil infraction; fine. Sec. 2c. A person who sells vapor products or alternative nicotine products at retail shall not display for sale in this state a vapor product unless the vapor product is stored for sale behind a counter in an area accessible only to employees or within a locked case so that a customer wanting access to the vapor product must ask an employee for assistance. A person who violates this section is responsible for a state civil infraction and shall be fined not more than $500.00. Add. 2019, Act 17, Eff. Sept. 2, 2019

MCL 722.643 Noninterference with right of parent or guardian.

722.643. Noninterference with right of parent or guardian. Sec. 3. This act does not interfere with the right of a parent or legal guardian in the rearing and management of his or her minor children or wards within the bounds of his or her own private premises. 1915, Act 31, Eff. Aug. 24, 1915; CL 1915, 5187; CL 1929, 12828; CL 1948, 722.643; Am. 1972, Act 29, Imd. Eff. Feb. 19, 1972; Am. 1988, Act 314, Eff. Mar. 30, 1989

MCL 722.644 Definitions.

722.644. Definitions. Sec. 4. As used in this act: (a) "Alternative nicotine product" means a noncombustible product containing nicotine that is intended for human consumption, whether chewed, absorbed, dissolved, or ingested by any other means. Alternative nicotine product does not include a tobacco product, a vapor product, food, or a product regulated as a drug or device by the United States Food and Drug Administration under 21 USC 351 to 360fff-7. (b) "Minor" means an individual who is less than 21 years of age. (c) "Person who sells vapor products or alternative nicotine products at retail" means a person whose ordinary course of business consists, in whole or in part, of the retail sale of vapor products or alternative nicotine products. (d) "Person who sells tobacco products at retail" means a person whose ordinary course of business consists, in whole or in part, of the retail sale of tobacco products subject to state sales tax. (e) "Public place" means a public street, sidewalk, or park or any area open to the general public in a publicly owned or operated building or public place of business. (f) "Tobacco product" means a product that contains tobacco and is intended for human consumption, including, but not limited to, a cigarette, noncigarette smoking tobacco, or smokeless tobacco, as those terms are defined in section 2 of the tobacco products tax act, 1993 PA 327, MCL 205.422, and a cigar. (g) "Use a tobacco product, vapor product, or alternative nicotine product" means to smoke, chew, suck, inhale, or otherwise consume a tobacco product, vapor product, or alternative nicotine product. (h) "Vapor product" means a noncombustible product that employs a heating element, power source, electronic circuit, or other electronic, chemical, or mechanical means, regardless of shape or size, that can be used to produce vapor from nicotine or any other substance, and the use or inhalation of which simulates smoking. Vapor product includes an electronic cigarette, electronic cigar, electronic cigarillo, electronic pipe, or similar product or device and a vapor cartridge or other container of nicotine or other substance in a solution or other form that is intended to be used with or in an electronic cigarette, electronic cigar, electronic cigarillo, electronic pipe, or similar product or device. Vapor product does not include a product regulated as a drug or device by the United States Food and Drug Administration under 21 USC 351 to 360fff-7. Add. 1988, Act 314, Eff. Mar. 30, 1989; Am. 1992, Act 272, Imd. Eff. Dec. 16, 1992; Am. 2006, Act 236, Eff. Sept. 1, 2006; Am. 2019, Act 18, Eff. Sept. 2, 2019; Am. 2022, Act 167, Imd. Eff. July 21, 2022 [Compiler] Previous section 4 of this act was not compiled. See Act 267 of 1945, Obsolete and inoperative laws repealed.

MCL 722.645 Short title.

722.645. Short title. Sec. 5. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "youth tobacco act". Add. 1988, Act 314, Eff. Mar. 30, 1989

Source: Michigan Legislature (legislature.mi.gov)URL: https://legislature.mi.gov/documents/mcl/Chapter%20722.xmlFetched: 10/20/2026