The Partnership for a Tobacco Free NE PA Enforcement program protects children starting to smoke by reducing youth access to tobacco products. Our primary goal is to eliminate sales of tobacco products to youth through ensuring merchant and clerk compliance with the Pennsylvania state law governing sales of tobacco products to minors, Act 112, Crimes and Offenses Tobacco Sales and Vending Machines Placement.

This is accomplished through:

• Enforcement of Pennsylvania’s law on merchant and clerk compliance

• Educating tobacco store owners, clerks, community members and public officials about the law and enforcement

• Conducts annual compliance checks with all tobacco merchants throughout the Northeast Health District’s 10 counties of Lehigh, Northampton, Carbon, Monroe, Pike, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wyoming, Susquehanna, Wayne

These activities are conducted by local tobacco enforcement agents who are trained by the Pennsylvania Department of Health Tobacco Control and Prevention program staff.

Retailers who violate the law face serious penalties. They can be fined, and if convicted, their tobacco sales license can be suspended.

For additional information, or to report the unlawful sale of tobacco products to minors, less than 18 years of age, or other unlawful tobacco sales practices, please call 1-866-974-QUIT or email the Partnership for Tobacco Free Northeast PA at csfv@lvh.com.