Tobacco-Free Living - Smoke-Free Ontario Act: Sale, Supply and Promotion of Tobacco

The Smoke-Free Ontario Act comes into effect on May 31, 2006.  This Act is meant to reduce smoking, especially among youth by preventing the sale and supply of tobacco to anyone under 19 and to limit exposure to second-hand smoke.

Preventing Youth from Obtaining Tobacco:

Under the Smoke-Free Ontario Act it is against the law to:

• Buy tobacco products for anyone under 19.
• Give tobacco products to anyone under 19
• Sell tobacco products to anyone under 19.
• Sell tobacco to anyone who appears to be under 25 without asking for identification.
• Display tobacco products on countertops at retail stores.
• Promote tobacco products or the sale of tobacco products at places of entertainment.

Specific information on how the Smoke-Free Ontario Act impacts:

Retailers (pdf) *New
Tobacconists (pdf)

What you can do:

• Refuse to buy tobacco for anyone under 19.
• Don't give tobacco (even one cigarette) to anyone under 19.
• If you are approached and asked to buy tobacco for a teen say NO!
• Tell the teen that if you give him/her tobacco you are breaking the law.
• Alert the tobacco retailers that teens are asking adults to buy tobacco for them outside the store.
• If your child is under 19 has tobacco products ask him/her how and where they got them. Talk to your child about the consequences of tobacco use.
• Talk to the person you suspect supplied or sold the tobacco. Let the person know it's against the law.

Report stores selling or persons supplying cigarettes to anyone under 19 or request more information:

Phone: Tobacco Hotline 905-540-5566
Email: tobacco@hamilton.ca

Last updated: May 26, 2008