The City of Providence has recently passed new requirements for tobacco vendors regarding tobacco pricing and flavored products. It is also implementing new vendor registration requirements and has banned the sale of “loosies”.
Effective February 1, 2012
- New Registration law. All Vendors selling tobacco in the City of Providence must be registered by the Board of Licenses and the license must be visibly posted in the store
- Ban on Sale of Single Cigarettes or "Loosies". All tobacco vendors are prohibited from selling single cigarettes or "loosies"
Penalties and Fines
Penalties and fines related to offenses of these two laws are:
• $250.00 for the first offense
• $350.00 for the second offense
• $500.00 for any subsequent offense
• Vendors with more than three offenses may be subject to license revocation
Effective January 3, 2013
• Ban on Non-Cigarette Flavored Tobacco Products. All tobacco vendors in the City of Providence are prohibited from selling flavored tobacco products (except menthol, mint or wintergreen tobacco) Flavored tobacco include but are not limited to: all fruit flavors, chocolate, vanilla, honey, candy, cocoa, herb, spice, dessert or alcoholic beverage. Tobacco products include any product containing tobacco or nicotine including but not limited to: cigars, pipe tobacco, snuff, chewing tobacco, dipping tobacco, bidis, snus and dissolvable tobacco
• Smoking and Hookah bars are exempt, as defined by Sec. 23-20.10-2(15).
• Ban on Coupon and Price Discounts. All vendors selling tobacco in the City of Providence are prohibited from: accepting or redeeming any coupon that provides any tobacco products or cigarettes for free or for less than the listed retail price. Tobacco vendors are also prohibited from selling tobacco products or cigarettes at a multi pack discount or buy down (example buy two get one free or purchase tobacco or cigarette product in exchange for another free or discounted tobacco product)
Penalties and Fines
Penalties and fines related to these new laws are consistent with other violations such as underage or single cigarette tobacco sales
• $250.00 for the first offense
• $350.00 for the second offense
• $500.00 for any subsequent offense
• Vendors with more than three offenses may be subject to license revocation
Tobacco vendors are encouraged to review the full language of the laws which may be found in the files listed below. If you have any questions or need additional resources, please contact City of Providence Healthy Communities Office at 401-421-7740 x753
Penalties and fines related to offenses of these two laws are:
• $250.00 for the first offense
• $350.00 for the second offense
• $500.00 for any subsequent offense
• Vendors with more than three offenses may be subject to license revocation
Effective January 3, 2013
• Ban on Non-Cigarette Flavored Tobacco Products. All tobacco vendors in the City of Providence are prohibited from selling flavored tobacco products (except menthol, mint or wintergreen tobacco) Flavored tobacco include but are not limited to: all fruit flavors, chocolate, vanilla, honey, candy, cocoa, herb, spice, dessert or alcoholic beverage. Tobacco products include any product containing tobacco or nicotine including but not limited to: cigars, pipe tobacco, snuff, chewing tobacco, dipping tobacco, bidis, snus and dissolvable tobacco
• Smoking and Hookah bars are exempt, as defined by Sec. 23-20.10-2(15).
• Ban on Coupon and Price Discounts. All vendors selling tobacco in the City of Providence are prohibited from: accepting or redeeming any coupon that provides any tobacco products or cigarettes for free or for less than the listed retail price. Tobacco vendors are also prohibited from selling tobacco products or cigarettes at a multi pack discount or buy down (example buy two get one free or purchase tobacco or cigarette product in exchange for another free or discounted tobacco product)
Penalties and Fines
Penalties and fines related to these new laws are consistent with other violations such as underage or single cigarette tobacco sales
• $250.00 for the first offense
• $350.00 for the second offense
• $500.00 for any subsequent offense
• Vendors with more than three offenses may be subject to license revocation
Tobacco vendors are encouraged to review the full language of the laws which may be found in the files listed below. If you have any questions or need additional resources, please contact City of Providence Healthy Communities Office at 401-421-7740 x753
Tobacco Ordinances