In Guam, the ban on tobacco sales to minors is respected

In Guam, the ban on the sale of tobacco and nicotine products to persons under the age of 21 is very widely respected, with a compliance rate of nearly 95%. Such results show that the government may be able to enforce the ban on sales to minors.[1].

Guam is an island in Micronesia and the Mariana Islands archipelago, located at the junction of the Philippine Sea and the Pacific Ocean. The island is part of the unincorporated territories of the United States, and has an elected governor and a legislature.[2].

A minority of retailers agree to sell to minors

In 2016, Guam passed a bill to raise the age of sale of tobacco and nicotine products to those under 21, with the provision taking effect in early 2017. In 2024, the Center for Behavioral Health and Wellness, a partnership with the Department of Finance, conducted its annual inspection of the island’s 270 tobacco retailers, using random and surprise inspections. The inspection results showed a compliance rate of 94.8% with the tobacco and nicotine sales ban, far exceeding the government’s compliance threshold of 80%. In 2021, the retailer compliance rate was 88.2%. Retailers found to have sold tobacco and nicotine products to young people aged 16 to 20 have been issued with a ticket, requiring them to pay a fine ranging from $2,000 to $4,000. On the island, selling these products to someone under the age of 21 is punishable by a fine of up to €20,000.

Significantly lower levels of sanctions and compliance in France

In France, tobacconists are prohibited from selling tobacco and nicotine products to minors under the age of 18. Regardless of the customer's supposed age, tobacconists have been required to ask for an identity card to accept the sale since 2016. Failure to comply with this ban exposes the seller to a fine of 4^th class, a flat rate of €135 (maximum €750), which is much lower than what is provided for in Guam. This difference could help explain the differences in compliance between the island and France. Indeed, according to mystery shopping studies conducted as part of a project by the National Committee against Smoking, two out of three tobacconists agreed to sell tobacco products to minors under 17. Such results are consistent with a large number of studies, highlighting that tobacconists remain by far the primary source of tobacco for adolescents.

©Generation Without Tobacco

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[1] Guam PDN, Guam reports 94.4% compliance with tobacco retail law, 11/11/2025, (accessed the same day)

[2] The Guam Daily Post, Guam 97% in compliance with tobacco law, 12/19/2022, (accessed 12/11/2024)