The agreement announced today requires that Chevron implement comprehensive youth prevention tobacco retailing practices at each of its company-owned stores. Chevron will also take a number of steps to prevent youth access to tobacco at its franchise outlets, including providing annual notices of the importance of complying with youth access laws; requiring franchisees to report violations to the corporate office; and modifying franchise agreements to provide that violations of youth access laws could constitute grounds for termination or non-renewal of the franchise agreement.

The Attorneys General have long recognized that youth access to tobacco products ranks among the most serious public health problems. Studies show more than 80 percent of adult smokers begin smoking before the age of 18. Research indicates that every day in the United States more than 2,000 people under the age of 18 start smoking, and that one-third of those persons ultimately will die from a tobacco-related disease.