Evaluation of the ExxonMobil Assurance of Voluntary Compliance

In August 2002, ExxonMobil Corporation executed an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance with 43 state Attorneys General in which ExxonMobil agreed to specific changes designed to reduce unlawful sales of tobacco products to underage customers. This agreement emerged from Attorneys’ General engagement of large national retailers—pharmacies, “big box” and convenience stores / petroleum marketers—that had performed poorly in tobacco compliance checks conducted by the Food and Drug Administration.

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Application of consumer protection authority in preventing tobacco sales to minors

In the USA, the enforcement of state sales of tobacco products to minors laws has had only limited impact upon reducing youth access. The application of consumer protection authorities by state attorneys general to alter the sales and promotion practices of tobacco retailers provides a complementary and highly leveraged strategy to increase compliance with tobacco sales to minors laws.

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Create and Maintain a Written Sales Policy

The RRForum’s Retailer Work Group — consisting of national retail chains, training organizations, mystery shop vendors, state regulators, attorneys general, producers, and researchers — has identified a set of recommended practices to reduce underage alcohol sales by off-premises licensees. Every responsible retailer should adopt these practices. Retailers should also consider additional practices to help meet the needs of their establishment and the local community.

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