Tobacco Under Twenty One
Va. Code 18.2-371.2 — photo ID at the counter, and civil penalties for the seller
No one may sell to, distribute to or buy for anyone younger than 21 a tobacco product or a hemp product meant for smoking, or knowingly let them buy one, and no one may sell these without seeing a driver's license or similar government photo ID showing the buyer is at least 21. Vending machine sales are not allowed.
Who handles this in Virginia: legal aid programs and the state offices, listed in the Virginia directory.
| Violation | Civil penalty |
|---|---|
| ViolationFirst | Civil penalty$500 |
| ViolationSecond or later within a three year period | Civil penalty$2,500 |
| ViolationAn employee's sale | Civil penaltyCharged to the store, plus $100 to the employee |
Online and mail order sellers verify age through a commercial database and deliver only on the signature of someone at least 21. A particular summons is a question for a licensed Virginia attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- Va. Code 18.2-371.2 — Sale or distribution of tobacco and smokable hemp products to persons under 21
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Virginia attorney.