Selling Age-Restricted Products: What Actually Works
Selling products such as alcohol, tobacco and vaping items online, where age verification and licensing apply.
Marcus Adeyemi
The key figures
- Alcohol
- the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau regulates alcohol labeling and advertising
- Tobacco
- the FDA regulates tobacco product sales and marketing
- State law
- shipping rules vary significantly by state
- Delivery
- carriers set rules for adult signature requirements
Why this is worth getting right
Age-restricted sales carry federal and state requirements, and platforms and carriers have their own rules.
Do this, not that
Do
- Verify age at purchase and delivery
- Check state-by-state shipping rules
- Keep licenses current
- Follow carrier requirements
- Review marketing claims against regulations
Don’t
- Shipping to states that prohibit it
- Age checks that are easy to bypass
- Marketing that appeals to minors
- Assuming one state's rules apply everywhere
When to bring in help
Our advice Bring in help before selling regulated products across state lines.
Where this comes from
- Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau — Advertising
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration — Tobacco products
The figures and practices above come from the sources listed.
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Where to go next
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