FDA's Youth Tobacco Prevention Plan
FDA's Youth Tobacco Prevention Plan—a key component of the agency's Comprehensive Plan for Tobacco and Nicotine Regulation—is a series of actions to stop youth use of tobacco products, especially e-cigarettes, with special focus on three key areas:
- Preventing youth access to tobacco products
- Curbing marketing of tobacco products aimed at youth; and
- Educating teens about the dangers of using any tobacco product, including e-cigarettes, as well as educating retailers about their key role in protecting youth
Milestones
FDA's enforcement actions and youth education efforts designed to protect kids from the harms of e-cigarettes include:
Access
Conducting more than 1 million retail inspections
Keeping individual retail locations and corporate retailers accountable for sales to minors.
Pursuing No Tobacco Sales Orders to Retail Locations
Barring retail locations that repeatedly sell to minors from selling tobacco products for a period of time.
Taking actions on flavored tobacco Products
Unveiling steps to prevent youth access.
Addressing epidemic of youth e-cigarette use
Taking action against 1,300+ retailers and 5 major manufacturers for their roles perpetuating youth access.
Warning retailers for selling e-cigarettes to minors
Taking action against retailers for selling tobacco products to minors.
Marketing
Prioritizing enforcement against products with youth appeal
Finalizing policy prioritizing enforcement against certain unauthorized flavored cartridge-based e-cigarettes that appeal to children
Protecting children from e-liquid dangers
Warning companies selling misleadingly labeled and/or advertised e-liquids resembling kid-friendly food products.
Requiring manufacturers to provide critical information
Sending several information requests related to JUUL and other e-cigarette products.
Education
Educating youth on dangers of e-cigarette use
Joining forces with Scholastic to provide e-cigarette prevention information in English and Spanish to middle and high school educators.
Developing resources for youth about the dangers of e-cigarettes for public health groups to share.
Expanding "The Real Cost" campaign
Expanding our award-winning youth tobacco prevention campaign, "The Real Cost" to help ensure teens understand the risks of e-cigarettes.
Helping retailers comply with age restrictions
Launching a retailer education effort, "This is Our Watch."
For More Information
- Teen E-Cigarette Prevention Materials for Educators: Questions and Answers on FDA’s Collaboration with Scholastic
- Think E-Cigs Can’t Harm a Teen’s Health?
- Youth Tobacco Use: Results from the National Youth Tobacco Survey
- "The Real Cost" Youth E-Cigarette Prevention Campaign
- Enforcement actions and a Youth Tobacco Prevention Plan to stop youth use of, and access to, JUUL and other e-cigarettes: April 24, 2018
"The troubling reality is that electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) such as e-cigarettes have become wildly popular with kids." - Statement from FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, MD - Keep e-liquids away from children
Containers for e-liquids (the liquid used in e-cigarette products) can seem tempting to children of all ages for many reasons. To keep kids safe, follow storage tips, know the poison control number, and make sure to properly handle e-liquids. - Report sales to minors and other potential tobacco violations
The Tobacco Control Act and related regulations give FDA tools to help keep tobacco out of the hands of America's youth. If you see what you believe to be a violation of the Tobacco Control Act or other related regulations, you can report it to the FDA Center for Tobacco Products.
Additional Resources
- January 2020: FDA finalizes enforcement policy on unauthorized flavored cartridge-based e-cigarettes that appeal to children, including fruit and mint
- November 2019: FDA expands work with Scholastic with launch of new youth e-cigarette prevention educational resources for middle and high schools
- March 2019: Statement from FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D., on advancing new policies aimed at preventing youth access to, and appeal of, flavored tobacco products, including e-cigarettes and cigars
- March 2019: Statement from FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D., on forceful new actions focused on retailers, manufacturers to combat youth access to e-cigarettes as part of FDA’s Youth Tobacco Prevention Plan
- February 2019: FDA pursues order barring specific retailers from selling tobacco products as part of its continuing efforts to target youth tobacco use
- February 2019: FDA joins forces with Scholastic to expand distribution of youth e-cigarette prevention posters to every U.S. high school, releases new resources for public health groups as part of Youth Tobacco Prevention Plan
- November 2018: FDA warns company for selling e-liquids that resemble kid-friendly foods as part of the agency’s ongoing Youth Tobacco Prevention Plan
- November 2018: Statement from FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D., on proposed new steps to protect youth by preventing access to flavored tobacco products and banning menthol in cigarettes
- Results from 2018 National Youth Tobacco Survey show dramatic increase in e-cigarette use among youth over past year
- Watch FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D., on new steps to address epidemic of youth e-cigarette use
- September 2018: FDA takes new steps to address epidemic of youth e-cigarette use, including a historic action against more than 1,300 retailers and 5 major manufacturers for their roles perpetuating youth access
- August 2018: Companies cease sales of e-liquids with labeling or advertising that resembled kid-friendly foods following FDA, FTC warnings
- FDA requires additional e-cigarette makers to provide critical information so the agency can better examine youth use and product appeal, amid continued concerns around youth access to products
- FDA, FTC take action against companies misleading kids with e-liquids that resemble children’s juice boxes, candies and cookies
- Statement from FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D., on new enforcement actions and a Youth Tobacco Prevention Plan to stop youth use of, and access to, JUUL and other e-cigarettes
- Statement from FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D., on efforts to reduce tobacco use, especially among youth, by exploring options to address the role of flavors ‒ including menthol ‒ in tobacco products
- Youth Tobacco Use: Results from the National Youth Tobacco Survey
- The Real Cost Campaign
- FDA's Comprehensive Plan for Tobacco and Nicotine Regulation
- Submit Comments on Tobacco Products