Rhode Island law prohibits smoking: in all enclosed public places, including aquariums, galleries, libraries, museums, professional offices, banks, laundromats, hotels, motels, bars, bingo facilities when a bingo game is in progress, convention facilities, elevators, entertainment facilities, health care facilities, licensed child and adult day care facilities, common areas in multiple unit residential facilities with more than 4 units, polling places, public transportation facilities, buses, taxicabs, restaurants, public beaches, restrooms, lobbies, reception areas, hallways, retail stores, places of meeting or public assembly under government control, schools, service lines, shopping malls, and sports arenas; and in all enclosed facilities within places of employment, including common work areas, auditoriums, classrooms, conference and meeting rooms, private offices, elevators, hallways, medical facilities, cafeterias, employee lounges, stairs, restrooms, vehicles, and all other enclosed facilities.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-20.10-3: Prohibition of smoking in public places
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-20.10-4: Prohibition of smoking in places of employment
“No smoking” signs or the international “No smoking” symbol (consisting of a pictorial representation of a burning cigarette enclosed in a red circle with a red bar across it) must be clearly and conspicuously posted in every public place and place of employment where smoking is prohibited, by the owner, operator, manager, or other person in control of that place. Every public place and place of employment where smoking is prohibited must have posted at every entrance a conspicuous sign clearly stating that smoking is prohibited. All signs must be attached at eye level and contain the following words “IT IS ILLEGAL TO SMOKE IN THIS ESTABLISHMENT”. To report a violation call ” .”
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-20.10-7: Posting of signs
Rhode Island law contains no specific provisions concerning state preemption of local smoking laws in general, so local communities may pass more stringent laws or ordinances in this area.
Exemptions
The following are exempt from the ban on smoking, subject to conditions:
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-20.10-6: Where smoking not regulated
R.I. Gen. Laws § 20-20.10-2: Definitions
Individuals under 18 years of age cannot purchase any tobacco in the form of cigarettes, bidi cigarettes, cigars, little cigars, flavored cigars known as “blunts,” unflavored “blunts,” flavored and unflavored blunt wraps, cigarette rolling papers of any size or composition, cigarillos and tiparillos, pipe tobacco, chewing tobacco, electronic nicotine-delivery systems, or snuff. Individuals under 18 years of age also cannot use or possess, when such possession is clearly visible, tobacco in any public street, place, or resort.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-9-13: Purchase, sale, or delivery of tobacco products to persons under eighteen; posting notice of law
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-9-14: Use of tobacco by minors
Department of Labor staff reported that the minimum age to work as a sales clerk in a retail tobacco store is 14.
It is illegal for any person to sell, give, or deliver to any person under 18 years of age any tobacco in the form of cigarettes, bidi cigarettes, cigars, little cigars, flavored cigars known as “blunts,” unflavored “blunts,” flavored and unflavored blunt wraps, cigarette rolling papers of any size or composition, cigarillos and tiparillos, pipe tobacco, chewing tobacco, electronic nicotine-delivery systems, or snuff.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-9-13: Purchase, sale, or delivery of tobacco products to persons under eighteen; posting notice of law
Any person, firm, or corporation that owns, manages, or operates a place of business in which tobacco products are sold must post conspicuous notice in red letters at least 3/8 inches high on a white background:
THE SALE OF CIGARETTES, TOBACCO AND ELECTRONIC NICOTINE-DELIVERY SYSTEM PRODUCTS TO PERSONS UNDER THE AGE OF 18 IS AGAINST RHODE ISLAND LAW (§ 11-9-13.8(1), Rhode Island Statutes) PHOTO ID FOR PROOF OF AGE IS REQUIRED FOR PURCHASE.
Signs must also be displayed prominently for public view wherever tobacco products are sold that state, in red letters at least 1/4 inches high on a white background:
WARNING: SMOKING CIGARETTES CONTRIBUTES TO LUNG DISEASE, CANCER, HEART DISEASE, STROKE AND RESPIRATORY ILLNESS AND DURING PREGNANCY MAY RESULT IN LOW BIRTH WEIGHT AND PREMATURE BIRTH.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-9-13: Purchase, sale, or delivery of tobacco products to persons under eighteen; posting notice of law
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-9-13.7: Signs concerning sales to individuals under age eighteen (18)
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-9-13.8.1: Signs concerning the health effects of tobacco
Rhode Island law contains no specific provisions concerning state preemption of local youth access laws, so local communities may pass more stringent laws or ordinances in this area.
Federal regulations prohibit free samples of cigarettes and limit free samples of smokeless tobacco products to certain age-restricted venues under several conditions.
Regulations Restricting the Sale, Distribution, and Marketing of Cigarettes, Cigarette Tobacco, and Smokeless Tobacco: Consumer Fact Sheet
http://www.fda.gov/downloads/TobaccoProducts/ProtectingKidsfromTobacco/RegsRestrictingSale/UCM265540.pdf
In Rhode Island, the distribution of free tobacco products and electronic nicotine-delivery systems or coupons or vouchers redeemable for free tobacco or electronic nicotine-delivery system products to any person under 18 years of age is prohibited. Further, the distribution of free tobacco products or electronic nicotine-delivery systems or coupons or vouchers redeemable for free tobacco or electronic nicotine-delivery systems products is prohibited, regardless of the age of the person to whom the products, coupons, or vouchers are distributed, within five 500 feet of any school.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-9-13.10: Prohibition on the distribution of free tobacco products
Distribution of tobacco samples is subject to tax and licensing requirements, as the term “sale” includes and applies to gifts, exchanges, and barter.
Rhode Island law contains no specific provision concerning state preemption of sampling, so local communities may pass more stringent laws or ordinances on tobacco sampling.