Call 911

Call 911 to report an illegal sale to a minor in progress.

Need something else?

It's illegal to sell certain products to anyone under 21.

ItemAge Restriction
Box cutterUnder 18
E-cigarette productsUnder 21
Etching acidUnder 18
Laser pointerUnder 19
Spray paintUnder 18
Tobacco and non-tobacco smoking products*Under 21

*Please see a full list of products in Tobacco or Smoking Product Complaints below.

You can report the sale of these items to minors.

What Happens Next

If you don't include your address or email with your Service Request, you won't receive follow up. The Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) will consider your complaint a tip.

If you include your address, DCWP will mail you a complaint form. You must complete and return it to DCWP. If you provide your email address, you'll get the form by email instead. Check your spam folder if you don't see it in your inbox.

You can’t sell e-cigarette products and component parts, such as a cartridge or refill, to anyone under 21.

You can’t sell these products to anyone under 21:

  • Products containing tobacco, including:
    • Cigarettes
    • Little cigars
    • Cigars
    • Shisha
    • Chewing tobacco
    • Powdered tobacco
    • Snus
    • Bidis
    • Gutka
  • Products used for smoking but do not contain tobacco, including:
    • Herbal cigarettes
    • Non-tobacco shisha
    • Pipes
    • Rolling paper
    • Water pipes
    • Hookah
    • Vaporizer
    • Anything else designed to inhale tobacco

Sellers must post an Age Restriction Sign, which is a white card with red letters stating the rules. Pharmacists and businesses that contain pharmacies are no longer allowed to sell smoking and vaping products.

The Department of Mental Health and Hygiene (DOHMH) accepts reports of shisha products sold to minors.

The New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) can help you with complaints about businesses in New York City. For complaints about businesses elsewhere, contact the local consumer affairs office or the State Attorney General.

Online

Learn how to file a complaint about a business outside of NYC.

By Phone

  • Agency: Nassau County Consumer Affairs
  • Phone Number: (516) 571-2600
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 9 AM - 5 PM

  • Agency: Suffolk County Consumer Affairs
  • Phone Number: (631) 853-4600
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 9 AM - 5 PM

  • Agency: Westchester County Department of Consumer Protection
  • Phone Number: (914) 995-2155
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 9 AM - 5 PM

  • Agency: New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs
  • Phone Number: (973) 504-6200
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 9 AM - 5 PM

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