U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Tobacco

Synar Amendment: Protecting the Nation’s Youth from Nicotine Addiction

CSAP oversees implementation of the Synar Amendment, which requires States to have laws in place prohibiting the sale and distribution of tobacco products to persons under 18 and to enforce those laws effectively. States are to achieve a maximum sales-to-minors rate of not greater than 20 percent by FY 2003. CSAP has provided States with state-of-the-art materials and technical assistance to help them reach that goal. Across the Nation, States have made great strides in reducing retailer violations of the law as required by the Synar Amendment. For FY 2001, the national average retailer violation rate was 17.4 percent, down from approximately 40 percent for FY 1997. Nine States reported retailer violation rates of 10 percent or less. As a result of the successes achieved by the States in response to the Synar Amendment, the program is a true success among public health initiatives.

FY2005 Synar Annual Report and Supporting Documents
The Annual Synar Report format provides the means for States to comply with the reporting provisions of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300x-26) and the Tobacco Regulation for the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant (45 CFR Part 96).

Requirements of the Regulation
SAMHSA's regulations for implementing the Synar amendment are outlined herein.

Fact Sheet
This fact sheet provides information on how to implement the SAMHSA tobacco regulation for the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grants.

Frequently Asked Questions
The following questions are those most commonly asked about the Synar Amendment and its implementation.

Retail Outlet Guidance Documents
Guidance documents are available for download on: performing inspections of retail tobacco outlets, implementing the Synar Amendment, and training teen inspectors on how to conduct tobacco sales compliance checks.

FY97-03 State Synar Rate Tables
These State data contain reported and targeted non-compliance rates.

Other Tobacco-Related Sites
This Web page contains useful links to other Government tobacco-related sites.

For more information about the Synar requirements of the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant, contact tobacco@samhsa.gov.

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