(a) No Licensee, manufacturer, producer, distributor, wholesaler, or retailer of Tobacco Products, or any agent, employee, or representative of a Licensee, manufacturer, producer, distributor, wholesaler, or retailer of Tobacco Products shall do any of the following:
(1) Give, sell, or otherwise distribute Tobacco Products to any person under twenty-one (21) years of age;
(2) Give, sell, or otherwise distribute Tobacco Products in any place that does not have posted in a conspicuous place a sign stating that giving, selling or otherwise distributing Tobacco Products to a person under twenty-one (21) years of age is prohibited by law.
(3) Give, sell, or otherwise distribute Tobacco Products without viewing proof of age demonstrating the recipient is at least twenty-one (21) years of age, except that no such verification is required for a recipient over the age of thirty (30). That a person appeared to be over the age of thirty (30) shall not constitute a defense to a violation of this section.
(4) Give, sell, or otherwise distribute Flavored Tobacco Products.
(5) Give, sell or offer to sell Tobacco Products by or from a Vending Machine.
(b) Subsection (a)(4) does not apply to the retail sale of Flavored Shisha Tobacco Products.
(c) Whoever violates this section is guilty of illegal distribution of Tobacco Products,a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of a violation of this section, Section 765.06 of the Codified Ordinances, former Sections 2329.13 or 2329.14 of the Columbus City Code, or Section 2927.02 of the Ohio Revised Code, then illegal distribution of Tobacco Products is a misdemeanor of the third degree.
(Ord. 25-2023. Passed 11-20-23.)