{"data":{"id":"us-dc/d.c.-code-7-1721.02","jurisdiction":"us-dc","citation":"D.C. Code § 7-1721.02","heading":"Sale of tobacco to persons under 21 years of age.","body":"(a)\nNo person shall sell, give, or furnish any tobacco product to, or purchase any tobacco product on behalf of, any person under 21 years of age.\n\n(b)\n(1)\nAny person who sells any tobacco product and who has reasonable cause to believe that a person who attempts to purchase the product is under 30 years of age shall require that the purchaser present identification that indicates the purchaser's age.\n(2)\nIt shall be an affirmative defense to a violation of paragraph (1) of this subsection that, at the time of the relevant sale, the person who attempted to purchase the product was 21 years of age or older, or presented identification to the seller that a reasonably prudent person would believe to be valid under the same or similar circumstances.\n\n(c)\nRepealed.\n\n(d)\nAny license to sell tobacco products issued pursuant to § 47-2404 may be suspended for a first or second violation of subsection (a) or (b) of this section. The license shall be revoked for a third or subsequent violation of subsection (a) or (b) of this section.\n\n(e)\n(1)\nIn any place or business where a person sells any tobacco product, the owner, manager, or person in charge of the place or business shall post a warning sign that includes the following: \"No tobacco product will be sold to any person under 21 years of age.  Sales clerks will ask for proof of age from any person seeking to purchase any tobacco product who appears to be under 30 years of age.\"\n(2)\nA sign posted pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection shall clearly state the maximum fine for a violation of this section. The sign shall be visible to the public at the entrance to the area and on the interior of the area in sufficient number to give notice of the law to the public.\n\n(f)\nNotwithstanding section 1004 of Title 1 of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations (1 DCMR § 1004), the Mayor shall collect and maintain a publicly available record of violations under subsection (a) of this section, including:\n(1)\nThe date of the violation; and\n(2)\nThe location where the citation was given.","path":["Title 7. Human Health Care and Safety.","Chapter 17. Restrictions on Tobacco Smoking.","Subchapter I-A. Prohibited Sales of Tobacco."],"source_url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/7-1721.02","current_through":"2026-08-20 (D.C. Law 26-175)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-29T05:44:07Z","sha256":"c30a1ae8461abaeb9783af50ef8186115f21d7d84b6af21b5b92927f8b562206","source_id":"us-dc","stale":false,"prev":"us-dc/d.c.-code-7-1721.01","next":"us-dc/d.c.-code-7-1721.03"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}