Increased Store Compliance with Minimum Price and Price Discounting Policies in Minneapolis
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The Association for Nonsmokers – Minnesota and NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center conducted pre and post store assessments in Minneapolis to assess compliance with changes
to the city’s tobacco ordinance in 2024 and 2025. A sample of commercial tobacco retailers
were evaluated to measure store compliance with:
May 2024 ordinance change (1) setting a minimum price per pack of cigarettes and other commercial tobacco products of $15.00 and (2) disallowing price discounts and coupons for commercial tobacco products.
July 2025 ordinance change setting a minimum price for e-cigarettes/vapes of $25.00.
Of 314 tobacco license holders in Minneapolis, a sample of approximately 30 stores were assessed before and after the implementation of the two tobacco ordinance changes. A pre-assessment was done in October 2023, and post-assessments were completed in December 2024 and December 2025. Stores were selected to be a representative sample of different types of stores (tobacco-only stores, convenience stores, and chain stores), as well as different neighborhoods and regions of the city. Each assessment used a slightly different sample of stores, resulting in 25 stores that were checked at all three points in time and an additional 4 stores that were checked at both post-assessments.
Of the 29 stores checked at both post-assessments, the number of stores that were in compliance (did NOT sell a pack of cigarettes for under $15) went from 21 (72%) in December 2024 to 27 (93%) in December 2025. The number of stores that were in compliance (did NOT sell a can of chew for under $15) went from 17 (59%) in December 2024 to 25 (86%) in December 2025. This demonstrates that the tobacco ordinance change was effective at maintaining high prices for commercial tobacco products, and compliance improved over time.
The December 2025 store assessment was modified to check prices for e-cigarettes/vapes, given the Minneapolis minimum price ordinance for vapes passed six months prior (July 2025). Of the 29 stores checked, 21 (72%) were in compliance (did not sell a vape for under $25). This demonstrates additional work is needed to improve compliance; however, based on the results for other commercial tobacco products, compliance may improve over time.
Of the 25 stores checked at all points in time, the number of stores that were in compliance with not having in-store promotions for any tobacco products went from 20 (80%) before the ordinance change to 19 (76%) in December 2024 and 25 (100%) in December 2025. Most stores (80%) did not have promotions prior to the ordinance; however, that improved to no stores having tobacco promotions by approximately 16 months after the ordinance disallowing price discounts and coupons was implemented.
Based on this evaluation, the Minneapolis tobacco ordinance changes were effective at maintaining high cigarette and chew prices and ending in-store promotions. Compliance with the city’s tobacco ordinance improved over time, though more work is needed to increase compliance with the new vape minimum price.