Minneapolis Commercial Tobacco Store Survey Results
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In March 2026, the Minneapolis Health Department and the Association for Nonsmokers-Minnesota conducted a survey of commercial tobacco retailers in Minneapolis. The purpose of the survey was to evaluate the impact of changes in 2024 and 2025 to the Minneapolis City Tobacco Dealer Ordinance (Title 13, Chapter 281). These changes include:
Setting a minimum price for cigarettes at $15.00 per pack.
Setting a minimum price for cigars at $3.75 for 1 and $15.00 for a package of 4.
Setting a minimum price for vapes/e-cigarettes at $25.00
Prohibition of the use of coupons for commercial tobacco products.
Survey questions were designed to obtain information about: whether retailers felt they received
adequate information about the policy changes, whether they understood the policy changes, whether they believed other commercial tobacco stores were following the policy changes, impacts on customer behavior, and resources that would be helpful when policy changes are made.
A QR code with a link to an online survey was distributed via email and postcard to 289 commercial
tobacco license holders in Minneapolis. A total of 33 responses were received (11.4% response rate). Most of the respondents identified as store owners (94%) from small businesses (90%).
A majority of respondents (79%) reported that they were provided information about the commercial tobacco policy changes in Minneapolis (those that reported they ‘agreed’ or ‘somewhat agreed’). A majority of respondents (76%) reported that they understood the commercial tobacco policy changes in Minneapolis (those that reported they ‘agreed’ or ‘somewhat agreed’).
About a third of respondents (27%) reported that they believed other commercial tobacco product
shops were following the new policies (those that reported they ‘agreed’ or ‘somewhat agreed’) and
about 20% reported that they did not believe that other commercial tobacco product shops were
following the new policies (those that reported ‘somewhat disagree’ and ‘disagree’).
A majority of respondents (66%) reported that customers were aware of the commercial tobacco
policy changes (those that reported they ‘agreed’ or ‘somewhat agreed’), while 21% reported that
customers were not aware of the changes (those that reported ‘somewhat disagree’ and ‘disagree’).
About a third of respondents (33%) reported that customers had reduced the amount of commercial tobacco products they were purchasing since the policy changes, while the same amount (33%) reported no change in customer buying patterns since the changes.
Participants noted that they would like additional resources from the City of Minneapolis to increase customer awareness about the policy change and to demonstrate that the resulting higher prices were because of city policies, and not the choice of the individual store. Although several respondents commented that they were frustrated with the City of Minneapolis setting high prices for commercial tobacco products, they also noted that they understood the public health rationale for the policy change with comments such as, “I understand that the council felt this would help slow tobacco use.” Respondents also noted that policy changes at the state level would be more impactful, as they believed this would make customers be less likely to go to another jurisdiction to purchase commercial tobacco products.