How old do employees have to be to sell and handle cigarettes or tobacco products?
(1) Any employee can sell and handle tobacco products when:
(a) The business has a cigarette retailer's license; or
(b) The business has registered with the department of revenue; and
(c) There is a supervising employee who is eighteen years of age or older on the retail premises.
(2) If someone under fourteen years of age is employed by a retailer, the retailer must comply with the requirements of the department of labor and industries under RCW
26.28.060 and WAC
296-125-018.
(3) Having an employee under eighteen years of age who handles and sells cigarettes and tobacco products according to subsections (1) and (2) of this section is not:
(a) Considered "possessing" cigarettes and tobacco products and is therefore not a violation of RCW
70.155.080(1); or
(b) Considered "giving" the employee cigarettes and tobacco products and is therefore not a violation of RCW
26.28.080.
[Statutory Authority: RCW
66.08.030. WSR 99-03-031, § 314-10-040, filed 1/13/99, effective 2/13/99; WSR 93-23-016, § 314-10-040, filed 11/5/93, effective 12/6/93.]