Stop Illegal Sales.
Protect Colorado Youth. 

Kids in Colorado still get tobacco and nicotine products—including vapes—from local stores. That includes products like chew, cigarettes, and flavored vapes. These products hook young people fast. ​​Nearly 90% of people who smoke every day started before they turned 18.1 And 96% of people who smoke started before they turned 21, the minimum legal sales age to purchase tobacco or nicotine products.1

Why Retailer Licensing Matters 

Retailers play a big role in youth access. A statewide license law now helps stop sales to anyone under 21. Stores that sell to minors risk fines, suspension, or even losing their license. 

Still, the problem continues: 

  • When trying to buy tobacco or vaping products in a store, 85% of Colorado high school students were not refused because of age.2
  • 49% of high school students say vape products are easy or very easy to get.3
  • Teens who think tobacco is easy to get are more likely to start using it. 

How Licensing Works 

Retailers must have a license to sell any tobacco or nicotine product. The state does regular compliance checks. When stores sell illegally, they face real consequences. You can help too—​​report violations to the Colorado Department of Revenue. 

Does Licensing Make a Difference? 

Yes. Local data proves it: 

  • Lakewood cut violations by 68% with licensing.4
  • Fort Morgan reduced youth cigarette access. 
  • Rocky Ford’s local license program improved enforcement and helped stores follow the law. 

More Ways to Protect Youth

Licensing is a strong start, but local communities can do more: 

  • Restrict flavored tobacco products. 
  • Cap the number of retailers near schools. 
  • Remove penalties that are harmful to youth. 
  • Cap the number of retailers allowed in communities. 
  • Remove penalties that are harmful to youth. 

Colorado’s Tobacco 21 law raised the purchase age to 21 and required retailer licenses statewide. It works—but local action keeps kids even safer. 

References
1. https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/php/data-statistics/youth-data-tobacco/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/youth_data/tobacco_use/index.htm
2. Healthy Kids Colorado Survey, Colorado School of Public Health. https://cdphe.colorado.gov/healthy-kids-colorado-survey-dashboard
3. Doubeni, C. A., Li, W., Fouayzi, H., & Difranza, J. R. (2008). Perceived Accessibility as a Predictor of Youth Smoking. The Annals of Family Medicine, 6(4), 323-330. doi:10.1370/afm.841
4. Community Epidemiology & Program Evaluation Group (CEPEG). Review of State and Federal Retailer Violation Rates Pre and Post Tobacco Retailer Licensing Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Denver Colorado, October 2019.