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Youth Access to Tobacco and Synar


The federal Synar Amendment requires states to enforce underage access laws to a degree that reasonably can be expected to reduce the illegal sale of tobacco products to individuals under the age of 21. All states must comply with the Synar Amendment to receive their full Substance Use Prevention, Treatment and Recovery Services Block Grant awards.

The Synar Amendment was developed in the context of a growing body of evidence about the health problems related to tobacco use by youth, as well as evidence about the ease with which youth could purchase tobacco products through retail sources.

Annual Synar checks, a requirement of the amendment, show that great strides have been made in reducing the number of retailer violations of the law and youth access to tobacco, vapor and alternative nicotine products in Michigan.