Rhode Island General Laws 11-9-13.10. Prohibition on the distribution of free tobacco products, including electronic nicotine-delivery system products
The distribution and/or redemption of free tobacco products, including electronic nicotine-delivery system products or coupons or vouchers redeemable for free or discounted tobacco products, including electronic nicotine-delivery system products, to any individual under twenty-one (21) years of age shall be prohibited. Further, the distribution and/or redemption of free tobacco products, including electronic nicotine-delivery system products or coupons or vouchers redeemable for free or discounted tobacco products, including electronic nicotine-delivery system products, shall be prohibited, regardless of the age of the individual to whom the products, coupons, or vouchers are distributed, within five hundred feet (500?) of any school. The attorney general, or any local or state of Rhode Island police department, or their officers or agents, shall bring an action for any violation of this section. Every separate, free or discounted tobacco product, including an electronic nicotine-delivery system product or coupon or voucher redeemable for a free or discounted tobacco product, including an electronic nicotine-delivery system or product, in violation of this section shall constitute a separate offense subject to a fine of five hundred dollars ($500). The penalty shall be assessed against the person or individual responsible for initiating the Rhode Island distribution of the free or discounted tobacco products, including electronic nicotine-delivery system products or coupons or vouchers redeemable for free or discounted tobacco products, including electronic nicotine-delivery system products, and/or against the person or individual responsible for the redemption of such coupons or vouchers.
History of Section.
P.L. 1996, ch. 321, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 182, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 223, § 1; P.L. 2017, ch. 409, § 2; P.L. 2017, ch. 426, § 2; P.L. 2021, ch. 204, § 1, effective July 7, 2021; P.L. 2021, ch. 205, § 1, effective July 7, 2021.
Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 11-9-13.10
- Electronic nicotine-delivery system: means an electronic device that may be used to simulate smoking in the delivery of nicotine or other substance to a person inhaling from the device, and includes, but is not limited to, an electronic cigarette, electronic cigar, electronic cigarillo, electronic little cigars, electronic pipe, or electronic hookah, "heat not burn products" e-liquids, e-liquid products, or any related device and any cartridge or other component of such device. See Rhode Island General Laws 11-9-13.4
- Electronic nicotine-delivery system product: means any combination of electronic nicotine-delivery system and/or e-liquid and/or any derivative thereof, and/or any e-liquid container. See Rhode Island General Laws 11-9-13.4
- Person: means any individual person, firm, fiduciary, partnership, trust, association, or corporation licensed as a retail dealer to sell tobacco products within the state. See Rhode Island General Laws 11-9-13.4