Virginia law § 18.2-246.8 mandates that sellers verify the age of consumers before delivering cigarettes. This includes obtaining a certification of age, verifying it against a government database or ID, and ensuring payment is made via a credit/debit card or check in the consumer's name. The law aims to prevent sales to minors by establishing strict age verification procedures.
Sellers must obtain a certification from the buyer, verify it against a government ID or database, and ensure payment is made via a credit/debit card or check in the buyer's name.
Yes, sellers are required to make a good faith effort to verify the certification against a commercially available database or obtain a photocopy of a valid government-issued ID.
The consumer must certify they are at least 21 years old, provide their address, and understand that signing another person's name is illegal, along with acknowledging the illegality of underage sales.
Yes, payment must be made via a credit or debit card issued in the consumer's name or by a check drawn on their account to ensure proper verification.