You may not know it, but it’s likely your store has had an FDA compliance inspection using underage youth to attempt to purchase a tobacco or vapor product. Since 2010, FDA has conducted over 1.1 million store inspections. Nearly 88% of those inspections are flagged as a “No Violation” – which means the FDA inspected and did not find a violation -- a passed check.

Owners and managers know that they are prominent members of the local community where their stores operate. Stores are often in high traffic areas where local residents come and go picking up needed items (particularly during a pandemic). This provides a great opportunity to let customers and community members know of your commitment to the local community and responsible retailing. This brings us to our final best practice #16          Be a Responsible Retailer: Get Involved in Your Local Community.  

State and Federal Sales Laws on Vaping and Tobacco retail sales change fairly often.  The Federal minimum age law to buy vaping or tobacco products changed to age 21 in December 2019, and since that time many states have changed their laws to follow this new federal law.  Some laws change immediately with little or no time to prepare (which was the case for the new 21-year-old minimum-age law) and other law changes come along with plenty of lead time.  Clearly, the last thing you want is your customers knowing about a new law before your sales associates.

December and January are peak order months as retailers order We Card materials. We Card Kits are chock full of materials that ensure your store has what it needs to comply with laws and regulations and to help you and your employees prevent underage sales of age restricted products.  Let’s take a quick look at what you’ll find in the 2021 Renewal Kit,