SYNAR
Did you know that every time a merchant sells tobacco products to a minor it doesn't only affect their health, it negatively impacts the local substance use prevention and treatment services budget by up to 20%
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Tobacco makes dollars, but it doesn't make sense.
Disclaimer: Please note that this information is presented for educational purposes only, and cannot include all of the information required to make informed decisions regarding tobacco use; all tobacco affect every user differently. SOOAR does not endorse tobacco use, and while our team makes a best effort to provide accurate information, we do not claim that it is 100% correct. Always do your own research and be safe.
What is Synar?
In July 1992, Congress passed the Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Administration Reorganization Act (PL 102-321). Section 1926 of that law, known as the SYNAR Amendment, requires states (including the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and several Pacific jurisdictions) to enact and enforce laws prohibiting the sale or distribution of tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18. To receive full Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Block Grant funding (SUBG), states must comply. Public Law 116-94, signed on December 20, 2019, raised the minimum legal age for tobacco sales from 18 to 21.
SYNAR Regulations and Requirements
Under the current SYNAR regulations (including updates from Public Law 116-94), states are required to:
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Enforce underage sales laws to reduce illegal tobacco sales to individuals under 21.
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Conduct annual, unannounced inspections of tobacco retail outlets using a valid probability-sample of establishments accessible to those under 21.
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Report their sampling methodology and inspection outcomes in the annual SYNAR Report by December 31. This includes information about the state’s methodology, results, inspection protocol, and any updates.
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Ensure that survey results include data on sales to minors and young adults under 21.
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Maintain a retailer noncompliance rate at or below 20%. Exceeding 20% noncompliance may lead to penalties, including a reduction of up to 20% of SUBG funding for the state.
Why It Matters
Reducing youth access to tobacco is a critical public health strategy. Underage tobacco use leads to health harms, increased risk of long-term addiction, and greater healthcare costs. The SYNAR Amendment strengthens prevention efforts, supports enforcement, and helps protect communities by ensuring accountability.
Tobacco makes dollars but it doesn't make sense.
When a noncompliance rate of more than 20% occurs, the PIHP for that region is penalized. If the cumulative noncompliance rate for the state is over 20%, the state is penalized.
The penalty is a is loss of up to 20% of its Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Block Grant (SUBG) funds.