Tennessee youth rally in support of tobacco retail licensing bill to curb underage vaping, hold bad actors accountable

FEBRUARY 19TH, NASHVILLE, TN — Tennessee youth rallied at the Capitol this week in support of legislation that would create a comprehensive tobacco retail licensing system aimed at cracking down on retailers who continue to sell tobacco and vaping products to underage kids.

The bipartisan legislation is sponsored in the House by Rep. Charlie Baum of Murfreesboro and in the Senate by Senator Shane Reeves, and would require retailers who sell tobacco and vapor products to obtain a state license, giving the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission a long-needed enforcement tool to rein in repeat violators and better protect youth.

Supporters say the bill is designed to target bad actor retailers, not businesses that follow the law.

“The youth vaping crisis in Tennessee has been going on for too long, and this bill is natural next step for our state to address it head on,” said Senator Shane Reeves. “This bill creates real accountability, gives the state better oversight, and puts the focus where it belongs, protecting Tennessee’s youth.”

Advocates estimate there are at least 13,000 retailers currently selling tobacco and vapor products across Tennessee, a number that far exceeds many other regulated industries. For comparison, there are roughly 350 McDonald’s locations statewide, highlighting the scale of the retail landscape currently operating without a comprehensive licensing system.

Under the proposed legislation, a tobacco retail license would allow the state to maintain an accurate database of all retailers selling tobacco and vapor products, strengthen enforcement for repeat violations, and help policymakers better understand where these products are being sold, including how close they are to schools and youth-centered spaces.

Public health advocates say the measure builds on existing efforts to address Tennessee’s youth vaping crisis, where flavored and high-nicotine products continue to be sold illegally to minors.

“A tobacco retail license is a proven, evidence-based policy that helps states reduce youth access while supporting responsible retailers,” said Stephanie Strutner of the Prevention Alliance of Tennessee. “This legislation gives Tennessee the data, oversight, and enforcement capacity it has been missing.”

Youth advocates, many of whom have witnessed the impacts of vaping in their own schools and communities, are playing a central role in advancing the policy.

“Vaping, nicotine pouches, and flavored cigars are everywhere we turn right now, and it’s startling how easy it is for kids my age to get these products, even when it’s illegal,” said Makayla Tsang, a high school student from Rutherford County and the License to Save Lives Coalition. “This bill is about holding adults accountable and putting our health and futures first.”

To highlight the urgency of the issue, hundreds of Tennessee youth from the License to Save Lives Coalition gathered at the State Capitol on Tuesday to call on legislators to support tobacco retail licensing. Photos, video interviews and b-roll were captured from their Day On The Hill, and may be requested by any outlets interested in coverage. 

The legislation has been assigned to the Commerce & Labor Committee in the Senate and the Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee in the House. Advocates say the legislation represents a critical next step in protecting kids, supporting responsible retailers, and giving state regulators the tools they need to stop repeat violations.

For more news across the state, click here.