document_title: Smoking age

question_text: what is the age to buy cigarettes in california

text: Smoking age

text: Smoking age laws by region[edit]

text: Africa[edit]

text:
Country

De jure

Notes

Legal age to smoke any tobacco products

Legal age to buy any tobacco products

 Algeria

None

19

It is illegal to sell tobacco products to minors under the age of 19 years. (Chapitre IV sur les problèmes de santé l'article 93: "la vente de tabac ou produits du tabac aux mineurs est interdite".)[1]

 Angola

None

18

It is illegal to sell tobacco to minors under the age of 18.[2]

 Benin

None

18

[3]

 Botswana

None

18

It is illegal to sell tobacco to minors under the age of 18. Any person who sells, by retail, any tobacco product, shall display clearly, for the public, a notice to the effect that the sale of any tobacco product to a person under the age of 18 years is prohibited.[4]

 Burkina Faso

None

18

[5]

 Burundi

None

18

It is illegal to sell cigarettes to anyone under the age of 18. Other tobacco products are not regulated.[6]

 Cameroon

15

 Cape Verde

15

 Central African Republic

14

 Chad

18

It is illegal to sell tobacco to a minor. Minors and pregnant women may not smoke in public.[7]

 Comoros

None

18

The sale of tobacco products to minors is prohibited. Vendors of tobacco products must visibly and prominently display at their point of sale a notice of prohibition of the sale of tobacco to minors and by minors.[8]

 Republic of the Congo

18

[9]

 Democratic Republic of the Congo

18

It is illegal for minors to smoke in public, and for anyone to give or sell tobacco to a minor.(ARRETE MINISTERIEL N°1250 Article 1: L'usage, la vente, l'achat et la consommation du tabac, de ses produits et de ses dérivés sont strictement interdits aux mineurs.)[10]

 Djibouti

None

16

It is illegal to sell tobacco products to a minor under the age of 16 years. A notice with the sale restrictions has to be placed at point of sale.[11]

 Egypt

18

The sale of tobacco products to persons under the age of 18 is prohibited.

 Equatorial Guinea

18

[12]

 Eritrea

None

18

[13]

 Ethiopia

None

18

"No person may directly or indirectly give, provide or sell any tobacco product to a person under the age of 18."[14]

 Gabon

None

18

[15]

 Gambia

None

 Ghana

18

[16]

 Guinea-Bissau

15

 Kenya

None

18

It is illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years. There is no minimum age to possess tobacco or smoke in public.[17]

 Lesotho

14

 Liberia

18

It is illegal to sell or supply tobacco to a minor. Minors may not consume tobacco at any public place.[18]

 Libya

None

18

It is strictly prohibited to sell any tobacco product to a person under the age of 18 years.[19]

 Madagascar

None

18

[20]

 Malawi

14

 Mali

None

18

[21]

 Mauritius

18

A person must be 18 years old to purchase or to smoke cigarettes including any tobacco products as is indicated in Public Health (Restrictions on Tobacco Products) Regulations 1999, Sec. 2(e)(i)).

 Morocco

16

 Mozambique

None

18

[22]

 Namibia

None

18

It is illegal to sell or supply tobacco to a minor.[23]No minimum age prior to 14 April 2010.

 Niger

None18 (to enter smoking room or facility)

18

It is illegal to sell tobacco products to a minor. Minors may not enter any smoking room or facility where smoking is permitted by law.[24]No minimum age prior to 17 July 2008.

 Nigeria

None

18

It is illegal to sell, give or otherwise supply tobacco products to a minor.[25]

 Republic of the Congo

14

 Rwanda

None

18

It is prohibited to involve a person under 18 in, buying, selling and exchanging of tobacco and tobacco products. It is also prohibited for the seller to sell tobacco and tobacco products to a person under 18.[26]

 São Tomé and Príncipe

None

16

[27]

 Senegal

None

18

It is illegal to sell or give tobacco to a person under the age of 18 years. (Chapitre III.- Accès aux produits du tabac: Article 17 Il est interdit de vendre ou d'offrir aux mineurs ou de faire vendre ou de faire offrir par les mineurs du tabac ou tout produit du tabac.)[28]

 Seychelles

18

[29]

 Somalia

15

 South Africa

18

It is illegal to sell or supply any tobacco product to a person under the age of 18.[30]

 South Sudan

15

 Swaziland

None

18

It is illegal to sell and give tobacco to anyone under the age of 18 years.[31]

 Sudan

None18 (to enter smoking room or facility)

18

It is illegal to sell or give tobacco to a minor. Anyone under the age of 18 may also not handle, store, work or produce with tobacco or within such a facility.[32]

 Tanzania

18

It is unlawful to sell or give tobacco products to a minor, and to smoke such tobacco products if the individual is younger than 18 years.[33]

 Togo

None

18

It is illegal to sell or give any tobacco product to a minor.[34]

 Tunisia

None

18

[35]

 Uganda

None

21

It is now illegal for a person below the age of 21 to access cigarettes.[36]

 Zambia

None

16

It is illegal to sell tobacco to anyone under age 16. No minimum age for consumption and possession in public.No minimum age prior to 1 January 1993.[37]

 Zimbabwe

None

18

It is illegal to sell or give tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18. Minors may not sell tobacco.[38]

text: Americas[edit]

text:
Country

De jure

Notes

Smoking age

Purchase age

 Antigua and Barbuda

None

Antigua and Barbuda doesn't have any restrictions towards selling tobacco to minors or smoking in general.[39]

 Argentina

None

18

It is illegal to sell tobacco products to minors.[40]

 Bahamas

None

18

[41]

 Belize

None

 Bermuda

None

18

No person shall sell or supply any cigarettes, tobacco or tobacco products to a minor. A person selling or supplying any cigarettes, tobacco or tobacco products to a person who appears to be under 25 years of age shall, before selling or supplying them, ensure, by requiring photo identification, that the latter person is not a minor.[42]

 Bolivia

None

18

The sale of tobacco products to minors under the age of 18 years is prohibited.[43]

 Brazil

None

18

It is illegal to "sell Products whose ingredients can cause physical or psychic dependence, even if only through improper use" (…). This also includes tobacco products of any kind.[44]

 British Virgin Islands

None

18

It is illegal to sell or offer to sell tobacco to anyone under the age of 18 years. It is not illegal for minors to purchase, possess or consume tobacco.[45]

 Canada

Regulations by province and territory:

Province/territory

Smoking age

Purchase age

Notes

Federal Government

None

18[46]

It is illegal to sell or supply tobacco products to a minor under the age of 18.The minimum age was 16 years of prior to 1994.[47]

 Alberta

18[48]

It is illegal to sell or supply tobacco products to a minor under the age of 18. Further, minors are not permitted to smoke at any public place.

 British Columbia

None

19[49]

 Manitoba

None

18[50]

It is illegal to sell, give, buy for, lend or otherwise provide tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years. Parents can provide tobacco products to their children on private property. Further it is legal to supply tobacco to a minor if it is solely for use in traditional Aboriginal spiritual or cultural practices or ceremonies.

 New Brunswick

None

19[51]

It is illegal to sell and supply tobacco products to anyone under the age of 19 years. It is also illegal to attempt to purchase tobacco on behalf of, or for the purpose of resale to, a person under the age of 19 years.

 Newfoundland and Labrador

None

19[52]

It is illegal to sell, give or furnish, directly or indirectly, tobacco to a person under the age of 19 years.

 Northwest Territories

None

18[53]

No person shall sell or supply, or offer to sell or supply, tobacco or a tobacco accessory to a person under the age of 18. No one under the age of 18 years shall purchase or attempt to purchase tobacco or a tobacco accessory.

 Nova Scotia

19[54]

19[55]

No vendor or employee of a vendor shall sell or give tobacco or a tobacco product to a person under the age of nineteen years. No person shall purchase tobacco or a tobacco product on behalf of, or for the purpose of resale or give tobacco or a tobacco product, to a person under the age of nineteen years. No person under the age of nineteen years may possess tobacco.

 Nunavut

None

19[56]

No person shall sell or supply, or offer to sell or supply, tobacco to a person who is less than 19 years old.

 Ontario

None

19[57]

No person shall sell or supply tobacco to a person who is less than 19 years old. No person shall sell or supply tobacco to a person who appears to be less than 25 years old unless he or she has required the person to provide identification and is satisfied that the person is at least 19 years old.

 Prince Edward Island

None

19[58]

No person shall sell or supply tobacco to a person under the age of 19 years. No person shall purchase or attempt to purchase tobacco on behalf of, or for the purpose of resale to, a person under the age of 19 years. It is legal to supply tobacco to a minor if it is solely for use in traditional Aboriginal spiritual or cultural practices or ceremonies.

 Quebec

None

18[59]

It is illegal to sell tobacco to anyone under the age of 18 years. The operator of a tobacco retail outlet may not give tobacco to a minor. The operator of a tobacco retail outlet may not sell tobacco to an adult, if the operator knows the person is purchasing the tobacco for a minor.

 Saskatchewan

None

18[60]

It is illegal to sell, lend, assign, give or send tobacco to anyone under the age of 18 years.

 Yukon

18 (federal law)

The territory Yukon has no legislations which restrict the sale of tobacco products to minors. Federal laws apply.

 Chile

None

18

It is illegal to sell any form of tobacco to a person under the age of 18 years.[61]

 Colombia

None

18

It is forbidden for any individual  or  legal  entity  to  directly  or  indirectly  sell  tobacco  products  and  its derivatives in any of its presentations to minors under the age of 18 years.  In case of question, one must ask each tobacco purchaser to show that he has reached majority age.[62]

 Costa Rica

None

18

Tobacco products may not be sold to minors. Wholesale or retail vendors of products shall have the obligation, at their own expense, to display posters that are visible, clear and prominently placed on the inside of places of sale, stating that the sale of tobacco products to minors is prohibited.[63]

 Cuba

None

18

Minors cannot legally buy tobacco,[64] but stores may sell it to those who look 13 or older.[citation needed]

 Cayman Islands

None

18

Tobacco Law, 2007 PART V – Section 10: No person shall sell tobacco to a minor.[65]

 Dominican Republic

None

18

It is illegal to sell tobacco to a person under the age of 18 years.[66]

 Ecuador

None

18

It is illegal to sell or let sell tobacco to or by a minor.[67]

 El Salvador

None

18

It is illegal to sell or give tobacco to a minor.[68]

 Falkland Islands

None

 Guatemala

18

It is illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years. Public consumption of tobacco by minors is prohibited. (El decreto 90-97, Código de Salud, indica en su artículo 50)[69]

 Guyana

None

18

No tobacco may be sold or furnished to a minor.[70]

 Haiti

None

18

 Honduras

None

21

The sale and/or gifting of tobaccoderived products to persons under 21 years of age is prohibited.[71]

 Jamaica

None

18

[72]

 Mexico

None

18

[73]

 Nicaragua

None

18

[74]

 Panama

None

18

The sale of tobacco products to minors is prohibited.[75]

 Paraguay

None

18

It is unlawful to sell tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years.[76]

 Peru

18

The sale of tobacco products to/by minors under the age of 18 is prohibited.[77]

 Trinidad and Tobago

None

18

Tobacco shall not be sold to or by a child under the age of 18 years.[78]

 United States(50 states and integral territories)
The federal law requires states to have a minimum age of 18 years for sale/purchase of tobacco products (21 U.S.C. § 387f. (3)(a)(ii)). State and local laws may extend this ban and also prohibit supply, possession and consumption to/by person underage, or increase the age beyond 18. However, most states do not directly ban the consumption of tobacco by a minor. The federal law requiring states to have a minimum purchasing age at 18 is enforced by withholding FEMA disaster and non-disaster grants from states that have purchasing ages under 18, and currently no state falls under that category.

Regulations by state:

State/territory

Smoking age

Purchase age

Notes

 Alabama

19 (including Alabama National Guard Bases) 18 (on military bases under federal law)[79]

It is illegal to sell or give tobacco products to anyone under the age of 19 years. Minors are prohibited from using and possessing tobacco products.The minimum age was introduced in 1896.[80]

 Alaska

None

19[81]

It is illegal to sell or give tobacco products to anyone under the age of 19 years. Possession by minors is prohibited. The minimum age requirement does not apply to a person who is a prisoner at an adult correctional facility.[82]The minimum age of 16 years was introduced in 1978.The minimum age was raised from 16 to 19 in 1988.[80]

 American Samoa

18

 Arizona

None

18[83]

It is illegal to sell or give tobacco products or smoking equipment to anyone under the age of 18 years. It is illegal for a minor to be in possession of tobacco or smoking equipment, or to receive them.

None

21[84][85]

Cottonwood and Douglas have raised their tobacco sales age to 21.

 Arkansas

18[86]

It is illegal to give or sell tobacco to anyone under the age of 18 years. It is illegal for minors to be in possession of tobacco products and to smoke in public.

18

21[87]

Helena–West Helena has raised the sales age for tobacco products to 21.

 California

18[88]

21[89]

As of 9 June 2016, it is illegal to sell or furnish tobacco to a person under 21 years of age, with an exception for people in active military service who are 18 years old. Before 9 June, the age to purchase tobacco was 18 years of age.

 Colorado

18[90]

It is illegal to sell, give or distribute tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years. Minors under the age of 18 years are prohibited from being in possession of any tobacco product.

18

21[91]

Aspen has raised the sales age for tobacco products to 21.

 Connecticut

None

18[92]

It is illegal to sell or give tobacco products to anyone under 18. It is illegal for minors to possess tobacco in public.A minimum age of 16 was introduced in 1902.The minimum age was raised from 16 to 18 in 1987.[80]

 Delaware

None

18[93]

Selling, giving or otherwhise distributing tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years is illegal. Minors under the age of 18 years are not allowed to attempt to purchase tobacco or to be in the possession of tobacco products.The minimum age of 17 years was introduced in 1953.The minimum age was raised from 17 to 18 in 1992.[80][94]

 Florida

None

18[95]

The Florida Statutes make it a criminal offence so sell or supply tobacco to an individual under the age of 18 years. Minors may also not be in possession of tobacco products.

 Georgia

None

18[96]

It is illegal to sell or give tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years. It is illegal for minors to possess tobacco in public. Minors are allowed to possess tobacco products and to consume those, in private home if permission is given by parents or legal guardian.The minimum age of 17 years was introduced in 1987.The minimum age was raised from 17 to 18 in 1993.[80][94]

 Guam

21

The minimum age was raised from 18 to 21, as of 1 January 2018.[97]

 Hawaii

21[98][99]

It is illegal to sell or furnish tobacco to a person under 21 years of age. It is also illegal for a person under 21 years of age to attempt to purchase tobacco.
The minimum age of 15 years was introduced on 11 November 1890.[100]
The minimum age was raised from 15 to 18 on 1 January 1988.[101]
The minimum age was raised from 18 to 21 on 1 January 2016.[102]

 Idaho

18[103][104]

 Illinois

18[105][106][107]

18[105]

21[108]

Fourteen cities in Illinois, including Chicago and Naperville, have raised their tobacco sales age to 21.

 Indiana

None

18[109]

Giving, selling, providing and distributing tobacco to minors is illegal. Minors may not possess, accept or purchase tobacco. Minors are not allowed to enter a tobacco business, defined in state law as a business whose primary activity is the sale of tobacco products and accessories.The minimum age of 16 years was introduced in 1980.The minimum age was raised from 16 to 18 in 1987.[80]

 Iowa

18[110]

It is illegal for minors to be in possession of tobacco, to smoke in public or to purchase tobacco products. It is illegal to sell or distribute tobacco to anyone under the age of 18 years.

 Kansas

None

18[111]

It is illegal to sell or supply tobacco to a minor. Minors may not possess or purchase or attempt to possess or purchase tobacco.

None

21[112]

Nineteen cities in Kansas, including Overland Park and Olathe, have raised their tobacco sales age to 21.

 Kentucky

None

18[113]

It is illegal to sell or supply tobacco to minors. Minors may not purchase or possess tobacco products. Prior to 1990 Kentucky had no minimum age to purchase tobacco. From 1990 until 1992 the minimum age was 16 years.In 1992 the age was raised from 16 to 18 years of age.[94]

 Louisiana

None

18[114]

It is illegal to sell or distribute tobacco to a minor. A minor is not permitted to possess tobacco, except in private residences or if accompanied by a parent, spouse, or legal guardian 21 years of age or older.Prior to 1991 there was no minimum age limit in Louisiana.

 Maine

18[115]

21[116]

It is illegal to sell or distribute tobacco to a minor. A minor is not permitted to possess tobacco, except in private residences or if accompanied by a parent, spouse, or legal guardian 21 years of age or older. Implementation for 21 and older July 2018.

 Maryland

None

18[117][118]

Minimum age raised from 16 to 18 in 1989.[94]

 Massachusetts

None

18[119]

It is illegal to sell tobacco to minors. Anyone else than the parents or guardian are prohibited from giving any form of tobacco to a minor.

None

21[120]

Over 100 cities in Massachusetts, including Boston, have raised their sales age for tobacco products to 21 years.

 Michigan

18[121]

It is illegal to sell, give, supply or otherwise provide tobacco to minors. Minors may not purchase, attempt to purchase, possess, attempt to possess or consume tobacco products in public. Minors are permitted to smoke on private premises.

18

21[122]

Ann Arbor and Genesee County have raised their tobacco sales age to 21.

 Minnesota

18[123]

It is illegal to sell, give, supply or otherwise provide tobacco to minors. Minors may not purchase, attempt to purchase, possess, attempt to possess or consume tobacco products in public. Indian may furnish tobacco to an Indian under the age of 18 years if the tobacco is furnished as part of a traditional Indian spiritual or cultural ceremony.

18

21[124]

Four cities in Minnesota have raised their sales age for tobacco products to 21.

 Mississippi

18[125]

It is illegal to sell, give, supply or otherwise provide tobacco to minors. Minors may not purchase, attempt to purchase, possess, attempt to possess or consume tobacco products in public.

18

21[126]

Adams County has raised their tobacco sales age to 21.

 Missouri

None

18[127]

It is illegal to sell, give, supply or otherwise provide tobacco to minors. It is not illegal to give tobacco to minors on private premises nor is it illegal for minors to smoke in public.Prior to 1992 Missouri did not have a minimum age limit.[94]

None

21[128]

Twelve cities in Missouri, including Kansas City, St. Louis and Jefferson City, have raised their tobacco sales age to 21.

 Montana

None

18[129]

Sale or distribution of tobacco products to persons under 18 years of age is prohibited, whether over the counter, by vending machine, or otherwise.Prior to 1993 there was no minimum age limit.[94]

 Nebraska

18[130][131]

It is illegal to sell, give or furnish, in any way tobacco to a minor. Minors may not smoke in public.

 Nevada

None

18[132]

 New Hampshire

18[133]

It is illegal to sell, give, supply or otherwise provide tobacco to minors. Minors may not purchase, attempt to purchase, possess, attempt to possess or consume tobacco products in public.

 New Jersey

None

21[134]

No person shall sell, give or furnish to a person under 21 years of age, any cigarettes made of tobacco.The minimum age of 16 years was introduced in 1904.The minimum age was raised from 16 to 18 in 1988.The minimum age was raised from 18 to 19 in 2005. The minimum age was raised from 19 to 21 on 1 November 2017.[80]

 New Mexico

None

18[135]

Prior to 1991 New Mexico had no minimum age.

 New York

None

18[136]

It is illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years.

None

21[137]

New York City (among others) and come counties have raised the sales age for tobacco products to 21.

 North Carolina

None

18[138]

It is illegal for anyone under age 18 to buy, attempt to buy, to receive, or to use a false or misleading proof of age for the purpose of purchasing or receiving any tobacco product or cigarette wrapping papers.The minimum age of 17 years was introduced in 1891.The minimum age was raised from 17 to 18 in 1991.[80][94]

  North Dakota

18[139]

 Northern Mariana Islands

18

It is illegal to sell and supply tobacco to a minor.

 Ohio

18[140]

None

21[141]

Nine cities in Ohio, including Cleveland and Columbus, have raised their tobacco sales age to 21.

 Oklahoma

None

18[142]

It is illegal to sell, give or otherwise supply tobacco to anyone under the age of 18 years.The minimum age of 18 years was introduced in 1915.

 Oregon

None

21[143]

It is illegal to sell, give or otherwise supply tobacco to anyone under the age of 21 years since 1 January 2018.

 Pennsylvania

None

18[144]

It is illegal to sell, furnish, give or otherwise provide tobacco to a minor. Minors may not purchase or attempt to purchase tobacco products.The minimum age of 16 years was introduced in 1972.The minimum age was raised from 16 to 18 in 1990.[80][94]

 Puerto Rico

None

18

 Rhode Island

18[145][146]

No person under eighteen years of age shall purchase, nor shall any person sell, give, or deliver to any person under eighteen years of age, any tobacco products. No person under eighteen years of age shall use or possess, tobacco in any public street, place, or resort, any tobacco and/or electronic nicotine delivery system in any form.The minimum age of 16 years was introduced in 1896.The minimum age was raised from 16 to 18 in 1988.[80]

18

21[147]

Barrington and Central Falls have raised their sales age for tobacco products to 21 years.

 South Carolina

None

18[148]

It is illegal to sell, give or otherwise supply tobacco to anyone under the age of 18 years. It is illegal for minors to purchase, attempt to purchase, possess, or attempt to possess a tobacco product, or present or offer proof of age that is false or fraudulent for the purpose of purchasing or possessing a tobacco product.

 South Dakota

None

18

Prior to 1989 South Dakota didn't regulate the sale of cigarettes to minors. Only smokeless tobacco products could not be sold to coal minors.

 Tennessee

None

18[149]

It is unlawful for a person who has not attained 18 years of age to possess a tobacco product, to purchase or accept receipt of a tobacco product, or to present or offer to any person any purported proof of age which is false, fraudulent, or not actually that person's own for the purpose of purchasing or receiving any tobacco product.

 Texas

18[150]

It is illegal to sell, give, supply or otherwise provide tobacco to minors. Minors may not purchase, attempt to purchase, possess, attempt to possess or consume tobacco products in public. Exception: The individual younger than 18 years of age possessed the cigarette or tobacco product in the presence of an adult parent, a guardian, or a spouse of the individual or an employer of the individual, if possession or receipt of the tobacco product is required in the performance of the employee's duties as an employee.The minimum age to purchase, possess and consume tobacco was 16 years of age from 1899 to 1989.[94]

18

21[151]

San Antonio has raised its sales age for tobacco products to 21.

 United States Virgin Islands

None

18

[152]

 Utah

19[153]

It is illegal to sell, supply, give or otherwise furnish tobacco products or smoking devices to anyone under the age of 19 years. It is illegal for anyone under the age of 19 years to possess, consume, purchase any tobacco product.

 Vermont

None

18[154]

It is illegal to sell, supply, give or otherwise furnish tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years. It is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 years to possess or purchase tobacco products.The minimum age of 17 years was introduced in 1888.The minimum age was raised from 17 to 18 in 1991.[80][94]

 Virginia

18[155]

It is illegal to sell, supply, give or otherwise furnish tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years. It is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 years to possess or purchase tobacco products.Prior to 1991 the minimum age to purchase tobacco products was 16 years of age.[94]

 Washington

None

18[156]

It is illegal to sell, give or permit to sell or give tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years. It is not illegal for minors to possess or consume tobacco products in public.

 Washington, D.C.

None

21[157]

It is illegal to sell, give or permit to sell or give tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21 years. It is not illegal for minors to possess or consume tobacco products in public. Tobacco use is prohibited at organized sporting events.The minimum age of 16 years was introduced in 1891.The minimum age was raised from 16 to 18 in 1990.[80][94]The minimum age was raised from 18 to 21 in 2016.

 West Virginia

18[158]

It is illegal to sell, supply, give or otherwise furnish tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years. It is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 years to possess, consume or purchase tobacco products.

 Wisconsin

None

18[159]

It is illegal to sell, give or permit to sell or give tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years. It is not illegal for minors to possess or consume tobacco products in public.

 Wyoming

18[160]

It is illegal to sell, supply, give or otherwise furnish tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years. It is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 years to possess, consume or purchase tobacco products.Prior to 1991 Wyoming had no minimum purchase/sale age for tobacco products.[94]

 Uruguay

None

18

It is illegal to sell tobacco to a minor. A clearly legible notice with the sale ban to under anyone under the age of 18 years has to be placed inside and outside the premises.[161]

 Venezuela

None

18

It is illegal to sell or supply tobacco products to a minor.[162]

text: Asia[edit]

text:
Country

De jure

Notes

Smoking age

Purchase age

 Afghanistan

18

It is illegal to sell, give or otherwise furnish tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years. It is illegal to smoke or the use of tobacco in public buildings such as hospitals, schools and restaurants.[163]

 Bhutan

Illegal

In 2004, Bhutan became the first country to ban the sale, cultivation, and production of tobacco. People 18 and over may bring a limited amount of tobacco into Bhutan if they pay import duties.

 Brunei

18

It is illegal to sell, give or otherwise furnish tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years. It is illegal for minors to possess, buy or consume tobacco products.[164]

 Bangladesh

16

It is illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone under the age of 16 years. Any police-officer in uniform or any other person or class of persons duty authorized by the Government has the power to seize and destroy tobacco products of anyone under the age of 16 years whom he finds smoking in public.[165]

 Cambodia

None

18

Any act of selling or distributing all types of tobacco products to persons aged under 18 years or to pregnant women whose pregnancy is obvious or is realized must be punished with six days to one month in prison and a fine of 100,000 riel to 1 million riel.[166]

 China

None

18

It is illegal to sell tobacco products to minors. No one shall smoke on school or education premises. Weakly enforced to not enforced.No age limit prior to 29 December 2006.[167]

 Hong Kong

18

It is illegal to sell, give or otherwise furnish tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years.[168]

 India

None

18

It is illegal to sell cigarettes or any other tobacco product to a person under the age of 18 years. It is illegal to sell tobacco within a radius of one hundred yards of any educational institution.[169]

 Indonesia

None

18

It is illegal to sell and supply tobacco products to pregnant women or anyone under the age of 18 years.[170]

 Iran

None

18

It is illegal to sell and supply tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years. Violation will result in confiscation of tobacco from the minor and a fine for the salesperson.[171]

 Iraq

14

 Israel

None

18

It is illegal to sell tobacco products to a minor.No minimum age prior to 12 November 2004.[172]

 Jordan

None18 (consumption of water pipes on premises)

18

It is illegal to sell tobacco to a minor. It is also illegal to provide water pipes in cafes, restaurants and similar places.[173]

 Japan

20

It is illegal to supply tobacco to persons under 20 years. It is punishable by a  ¥10,000 fine.[174]

 Kazakhstan

None

18

[175]

 Kuwait

None

21

It is illegal to sell or give tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21 years.[176]

 Kyrgyzstan

None

18

No minor shall sell or be sold tobacco products.[177]

 Lebanon

18

18

It is illegal to sell or distribute tobacco to a minor.[178]

 Macau

None

18

It is illegal to sell tobacco to a person under the age of 18 years. It is not illegal for a minor to smoke or to obtain tobacco from a person of the legal age.[179]

 Malaysia

None

18

It is illegal to sell tobacco products to a minor.[180]

 Maldives

None

18

It is illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years. The retailer must ensure that the buyer is at least 18 years of age. Furthermore, a clearly legible notice has to be displayed at point of sale stating that tobacco sales to minors are illegal.[181]

 Mongolia

21

   Nepal

None

18

It is illegal to sell or distribute tobacco products to minors and pregnant women.[182]

 North Korea

None

17

It is illegal to sell tobacco products to a minor.[183] (The tobacco law does not define the word "minor", but age of majority is reached at the age of 17 years).

 Oman

18

 Pakistan

None

18

It is illegal to sell tobacco to a person under the age of 18 years. A clearly legible notice with the sale restriction has to be placed at point of sale.[184]

 Palestine

14

 Philippines

18

Only people over 18 may buy cigarettes and tobacco due to the "STOP for Health Act". (Stop Tobacco and Other Products for Health)[185]

 Qatar

None

18

It is illegal to sell cigarettes or any other tobacco to a person unter the age of 18 years.[186]

 Saudi Arabia

18

 Singapore

18

Smoking age in Singapore is currently 18, increasing to 19 by 2019 and 21 by 2021.It is illegal to sell or give, directly or indirectly any tobacco product to a person under the age of 18 years. No minor is allowed to consume or possess any tobacco product in public.[187]

 South Korea

19

20

[188]

 Sri Lanka

None

21

It is the law to sell any tobacco product to a person under the age of 21 years.[189]

 Syria

None

18

It is unlawful to sell or give tobacco to a person under the age of 18 years.[190]

 Taiwan

18

It is illegal to sell or provide tobacco to persons under the age of 18 years. It is illegal to force, induce or use other means to cause a pregnant woman to smoke. It is illegal for a pregnant women or a minor to smoke. No penalty is provided for pregnant women who smoke.[191]

 Tajikistan

14

 Thailand

None

18

[192]

 Turkmenistan

Illegal

In January 2016, President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedow reportedly banned tobacco sales in Turkmenistan.[193]

 United Arab Emirates

18

 Vietnam

18

It is illegal for people less than 18 years of age use, buy, and sell tobacco products. It is illegal to sell and supply tobacco product to people less than 18 years of age.[194]

 Yemen

14¿₡₯₠

text: Europe[edit]

text:
Country

De jure

Notes

Smoking age

Purchase age

 Albania

None

18

It is illegal to sell or supply tobacco products to minors under the age of 18 years.[195]

 Armenia

None

18

It is illegal to sell tobacco products anyone under the age of 18 years. Minors may not sell tobacco products.[196]No minimum age prior to 24 December 2004.

 Austria

16

The minimum age is regulated by each federal state, but is nationwide 16 years. It is illegal in every state to sell or give tobacco products to a person under the age of 16 years as well as the consumption by a person under the age of 16 years in any public place.[197]

 Azerbaijan

None

18

It is illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years. The packaging of tobacco products must contain a warning that sale to minors is prohibited.[198]No minimum age prior to 1 January 2002.

 Belarus

None

18

(Decree No. 28 of 2002 Section 32. "It is banned to sell tobacco products to citizens (by citizens) of the Republic of Belarus, foreign citizens and individuals with no citizenship under 18 years old.")[199]

 Belgium

None

16

("It is forbidden to sell tobacco products to young people under the age of 16 and advertising for tobacco products is forbidden.")[200]

 Bosnia and Herzegovina

18

It is illegal to sell and gift tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years. It is illegal for minors under the age of 18 years to gift, sell and consume tobacco products.[201]The minimum age was 15 years prior to 28 September 2004.No minimum age prior to 9 March 1998.[202]

 Bulgaria

None

18

It is illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years.[203]

 Croatia

None

18

It is illegal to sell tobacco products to minors. It is the responsibility of any salesperson to ensure that no tobacco is sold to minors and therefore to request an ID to make sure that the purchaser is at least 18 years of age. Minors may not sell tobacco products.[204]

 Cyprus

None

18

It is illegal to sell or otherwise provide tobacco products to a minor. "(…)any  person  who  provides  a  tobacco product  to  a  minor  is  guilty  of  offense  and  in  any  case  of  his/her  conviction, he/she shall  be subject to a penalty not exceeding one thousand pounds or to incarceration not exceeding six months and/or to both penalties."[205]

 Czech Republic

None

18

Selling tobacco products to anyone under 18 is prohibited. Sale of tobacco products and tobacco through vending machines is permitted if the tobacco purchase age is not violated. The seller shall place a clearly visible notice displaying the sale restrictions of tobacco to person under the age of 18. A person selling tobacco must be 18 years or older, unless the minor is preparing for a future career in the hotel or tourism industry, as a cook-waiter or salesman. However, it is very easy to get tobacco products for minors as many sellers don't check the age.[206]The minimum age was 16 years prior to 2 September 1999.[207]

 Denmark

None

18

The minimum age was 16 years prior to 1 September 2008.[208]

 Estonia

18

The minimum age to purchase tobacco products or to smoke in public is set at 18. Minors may not be in possession of, or handle tobacco products.[209]

 Finland

18

Prior to October 2010 it was not illegal for minors to smoke in public.The minimum age was 16 years prior to 1 March 1995.[210]

 France

None

18

It is illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years. Minors under the age of 18 years may not smoke in any school or on school property.[211] Vending machines outside a tobacco shop is prohibited.Prior to 21 July 2009 the minimum age to purchase tobacco products was 16 years of age.

 Georgia

None

18

It is illegal to sell tobacco products to minors under the age of 18.[212]

 Germany

18

The Protection of Young Persons Act states that children and young people under 18 years of age shall not be sold tobacco products nor should they be permitted to smoke in public. This does not apply to married adolescents.[213]Minimum age was 18 from 10 June 1943 until 1 January 1952.[214]Minimum age was 16 from 1 January 1952 to 1 September 2007.[215]

 Gibraltar

18

It is illegal to sell and furnish tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years. Any police officer may confiscate tobacco from a minor in public.[216]The minimum age was 16 years prior to 7 July 2006.[217]

 Greece

None

18

It is illegal to sell tobacco to minors.[218]

 Hungary

18

It is illegal to sell or supply tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18. It is illegal to smoke under the age of 18. The sale of tobacco is prohibited within 200 m of schools and health care units.

 Iceland

None

18

It is illegal to sell or deliver tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years. Minors may not handle or sell tobacco products.[219]No minimum age prior to 1 January 1985.The minimum age was 16 years from 1 January 1985 to 1 October 1996.[220]

 Ireland

18

The sale of tobacco to persons under 18 is illegal. It is illegal to buy or smoke cigarettes if you are under the age of 18.[221]The minimum age was 16 years prior to 27 March 2002.[222]

 Italy

None

18

It is illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years. Violation is punished with a fine between €250.00 and €1000.00. If the law is violated more than once the fine is increased to €500.00 and €2,000.00 and a revocation of the tobacco license for at least 3 months.[223][224]Minimum age for electronic cigarettes was 16 prior to 1 May 2013.[225]

 Kosovo[a]

None

[226]

 Latvia

18

The sale of tobacco products to persons under the age of 18 is prohibited.[227]

 Liechtenstein

16

It is illegal for anyone under the age of 16 to possess or consume tobacco products.[228]

 Lithuania

18

No minimum age to smoke prior to 1 May 2015.

 Luxembourg

None

18

It is illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years.[229][230]No minimum age prior to 1 January 2006.Minimum purchase age increased from 16 to 18 on 1 August 2017.

 Macedonia

None

18

It is illegal to sell tobacco to anyone under the age of 18 years.[231]

 Malta

None

18

"No person shall sell, supply or distribute by way of compensation or otherwise, any cigarettes, cigars, tobacco, tobacco products or smoking requisites to any person who is under the age of 18 years, or in any manner induce such person to smoke."[232]

 Moldova

None

18

It is illegal to sell tobacco to anyone under the age of 18 years.[233]

 Montenegro

None

18

It is illegal to sell tobacco to anyone under the age of 18. A poster with the sale restrictions must be placed at point of sale.[234]

 Netherlands

None

18

The sale of tobacco to persons under 18 is illegal.[235] Smoking of tobacco is prohibited by law in all public buildings and in public transport. As of 1 January 2004 every employee has the right to work in a smoke-free environment. All forms of tobacco advertising, promotion or sponsorship are prohibited.  Smoking remains prevalent in the Netherlands despite these efforts. Tobacco can be bought at every supermarket and at other stores.

 Norway

None

18

No age limit for use of tobacco but no sales of cigarettes or Swedish snus to people under 18 by law.[236] Vending machines are only allowed when they are cited inside an approved store, with a demand of buying a receipt from the cashier first.[236] and imitation tobacco products are not allowed. Cigarette commercials are also strictly forbidden by law. As of June 2004, smoking is prohibited in all public places, including restaurants, pubs and work places.

 Poland

None

18

Minors are not allowed to buy tobacco products.[237]

 Portugal

18

It is illegal to sell or give any tobacco product to a minor as well as the consumption of a tobacco product in any public place by a minor. There is a proposition to ban vending machines in places accessible to people younger than 18.[238] Minimum age was 16 prior to 1 January 2008.

 Romania

None

18

There is a ban on sale of tobacco to those younger than 18. Vending machines selling tobacco are banned. There is no minimum legal age of smoking.

 Russia

None

18

Retail sales of tobacco products to any person under the age of 18 years are an offence.[239]

 Serbia

None

18

The sale to persons under 18 is prohibited. Contrary to that, a lot of salesmen sell cigarettes to minors in Serbia. Acquiring tobacco products is very easy for minors despite the law.

 Slovakia

None

18

Tobacco sales to under 18 year olds are prohibited.[240]

 Slovenia

None

18

It is illegal to sell tobacco to anyone under the age of 18. ID-Card or passport has to be shown if requested.[241]

 Spain

None

18

It is illegal to sell any tobacco product or other smoking substances (e.g. electronic cigarettes) to a person under the age of 18 years.[242]Minimum age was 16 in most regions prior to 1 January 2006.

 Sweden

None

18

It is illegal to sell or commercially distribute tobacco to a person under the age of 18 years.[243]No minimum age prior to 1 January 1997.

  Switzerland

Regulations by canton:

States/territories

Smoking age

Purchase age

Notes

 Aargau

None

16

It is an offence to sell or supply (except for Parents) any tobacco product to a person under 16 years of age.[244]

 Appenzell Ausserrhoden

None

16

It is an offence to sell or supply any tobacco product to a person under 16 years of age.[245]

 Appenzell Innerrhoden

None

No cantonal regulation towards sale and supply of tobacco products to minors.[246]

 Basel-Landschaft

None

18

Selling any tobacco product to a minor is unlawful. If a customer appears to be under the age of 18 years the salesperson must check a valid ID.[247]

 Basel-Stadt

None

18

Selling any tobacco product to a minor is unlawful. If a customer appears to be under the age of 18 years the salesperson must check a valid ID.[248]

 Bern

None18 (to enter smoking facility or premises)

18

Selling or giving any tobacco product to a minor is unlawful. If a customer appears to be under the age of 18 years the salesperson must check a valid ID.[249]

 Fribourg

None

16

Selling or supplying any tobacco product to a person under the age of 16 is unlawful. If a customer appears to be under the age of 16 years the salesperson must check a valid ID.[250]

 Geneva

None

No cantonal regulation towards sale and supply of tobacco products to minors.[246]

 Glarus

None

16

Selling any tobacco product to a person under the age of 16 is unlawful. If a customer appears to be under the age of 16 years the salesperson must check a valid ID.[251]

 Graubünden

None

16

[252]

 Jura

None

18

It is illegal to sell or supply tobacco to a minor.[253]

 Luzern

None

16

Selling any tobacco product to a person under the age of 16 is unlawful.[254]

 Neuchâtel

None

18

Selling any tobacco product to a minor is unlawful.[255]

 Nidwalden

None

18

Selling any tobacco product to a minor is unlawful.[256]

 Obwalden

None

No cantonal regulation towards sale and supply of tobacco products to minors.[246]

 Schaffhausen

None

18

Selling any tobacco product to a minor is unlawful.[246]

 Schwyz

None

No cantonal regulation towards sale and supply of tobacco products to minors.[246]

 Solothurn

None

16

Selling any tobacco product to a person under the age of 16 is unlawful.[257]

 St. Gallen

None

16

Selling or supplying any tobacco product to a person under the age of 16 is unlawful. If a customer appears to be under the age of 16 years the salesperson must check a valid ID.[258]

 Thurgau

None

16

Selling or supplying any tobacco product to a person under the age of 16 is unlawful. If a customer appears to be under the age of 16 years the salesperson must check a valid ID.[259]

 Ticino

None

18

Selling any tobacco product to a minor is unlawful.[246]

 Uri

None

16

Selling or supplying any tobacco product to a person under the age of 16 is unlawful.[260]

 Valais

None

16

Selling or supplying any tobacco product to a person under the age of 16 is unlawful. Currently the cantonal government is planning to raise the minimum age to 18 years.[261]

 Vaud

None

18

Selling any tobacco product to a minor is unlawful.[262]

 Zug

None

18

Selling any tobacco product to a minor is unlawful.[263]

 Zürich

None

16

Selling or supplying any tobacco product to a person under the age of 16 is unlawful. If a customer appears to be under the age of 16 years the salesperson must check a valid ID.[264]

 Turkey

None

18

 Ukraine

14

18

 United Kingdom

18 (purchase de jure) 16 (public possession & purchase de facto)

 England and  Wales:It is illegal to sell tobacco to anyone under the age of 18.[265] The minimum age to smoke in public is 16 and authorities have the duty to seize any tobacco or cigarette papers in the possession of any person apparently under the age of 16.[266]Minimum age to purchase was 16 from 1908 to 1 October 2007.
No minimum age prior to 1908.

18

 Scotland:  A person who sells a tobacco product or cigarette papers to a person under the age of 18 commits an offence. Any person under the age of 18 who buys or attempts to buy a tobacco product or cigarette papers commits an offence as well as an adult who knowlingly buys a tobacco product or cigarette papers on behalf of a person under the age of 18.[267] Any constable who has reasonable grounds for suspecting that a person in a public place is under the age of 18, and in possession of a tobacco product or cigarette papers may require the person to surrender the tobacco product.[268]Minimum age was 16 prior to 30 September 2007.

18

Northern Ireland:A person who sells to a person under the age of 18 any tobacco or cigarette papers, whether for his own use or not, shall be guilty of an offence. A member of the Police Service of Northern Ireland may seize any tobacco or cigarette papers in the possession of any person apparently under the age of 18 whom he finds smoking in any street or public place.[269]Minimum age was 16 prior to 1 September 2008.

text: ^ Disputed.

tag: ol

text: Oceania[edit]

text:
Country

De jure

Notes

Smoking age

Purchase age

 Australia

Regulations by state/territory:

Province/territory

Smoking age

Purchase age

Notes

 Australian Capital Territory

None

18

It is illegal to sell tobacco products to a person under the age of 18 years.[270] Further it is illegal to buy a tobacco product for a minor.[271]

 New South Wales

None

18

It is illegal to sell any tobacco or non-tobacco smoking product to a person who is under the age of 18 years.[272]

 Northern Territory

None

18

It is illegal to sell any tobacco product to a minor or on behalf of a minors. It is illegal to smoke in a vehicle with a person under the age of 18 years present.[273][274]

 Queensland

None

18

It is illegal for an adult to supply a tobacco product to a person under the age of 18 years; however, a responsible adult for a child does not commit an offence by supplying a smoking product to the child.[275]

 South Australia

None

18

It is an offence to supply any tobacco product to a person under the age of 18 years.[276]

 Tasmania

None

18

It is illegal to sell or supply tobacco to a person under the age of 18 years.Minimum age was 16 prior to 1 January 1997.[277]

 Victoria

None

18

It is illegal to supply tobacco to a minor. Smoking in a vehicle with a person under 18 present is an offence.[278]

 Western Australia

None

18

It is illegal to sell, deliver or supply tobacco or smoking implement to a minor. Purchase on behalf of people under 18 prohibited.[279][280]

 Fiji

None

18

It is illegal to sell and supply tobacco to a minor.[281]

 Micronesia, Federated States of

18

It is illegal to sell and supply tobacco to a minor.

 New Zealand

None

18

It is illegal to sell and supply tobacco to a minor under 18 years.[282]No minimum age prior to 1903.Minimum age of 15 years from 1903 to 1988.Minimum age of 16 years from 1988 to 1998.[283][284]'

 Palau

None

1821 (Only rolling papers and elaus)

It is illegal to sell or give tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years. If the purchaser appears to be under the age of 30 years, ID must be checked before sale. It is illegal to employ anyone under the age of 21 handling tobacco products. It is illegal to sell rolling papers and elaus to anyone under the age of 21 years.[285]

 Papua New Guinea

None

18

It is illegal to sell or give tobacco to a person under the age of 18 years.[286]

 Samoa

21

It is illegal to sell tobacco to anyone under the age of 21 years. It is not illegal for a person under the age of 21 years to possess or smoke tobacco in public.[287]

 Solomon Islands

None

18

It is illegal to sell, give or otherwise supply tobacco to a minor.[288]

 Tonga

None

18

It is illegal to sell, give or otherwise supply tobacco to a minor.[289]

 Tokelau

16

It is illegal for a person under 16 to smoke tobacco.[290]

 Vanuatu

18

It is illegal to sell tobacco to a persons under 18. It is illegal for persons under 18 to smoke tobacco.[291]

text: Historical regulations[edit]

text:
Minimum age to purchase tobacco in the European Union as of 1995:   Minimum age is 18  Minimum age is 16  No minimum age

Minimum age to purchase tobacco in the USA as of 1989:[292]   Minimum age is 19  Minimum age is 18  Minimum age is 17  Minimum age is 16  No minimum age


document_title: List of Everybody Loves Raymond characters

question_text: who played stefania's dad on everybody loves raymond

question_tokens: who played stefania 's dad on everybody loves raymond

root

text: Main characters

text:
Actor
Role
Seasons
Episodes

Ray Romano
Raymond "Ray" Barone
All 9
210

Patricia Heaton
Debra Barone
209

Brad Garrett
Robert Charles Barone

Doris Roberts
Marie Barone
210

Peter Boyle
Frank Barone
206

Madylin Sweeten
Alexandra "Ally" Barone
146

Sullivan and Sawyer Sweeten
Michael and Geoffrey Barone
136

Monica Horan
Amy MacDougall-Barone
64

tag: table

text: Ray Barone

text:
Raymond Albert Barone

First appearance
"Pilot"

Last appearance
"The Finale"
Final character appearance: King of Queens – "Raygin' Bulls"

Created by
Ray Romano & Philip Rosenthal

Portrayed by
Ray Romano

Number of episodes
210

Information

Occupation
Sportswriter

Family
Frank Barone (father)
Marie Barone (mother)
Robert Barone (brother)
Mel Barone (uncle)

Spouse(s)
Debra Barone (since 1988)

Children
Alexandra "Ally" Barone (daughter)
Geoffrey Barone (twin son)
Michael Barone (twin son)

Relatives
Warren Whelan (father-in-law)
Lois Whelan (mother-in-law)
Amy MacDougall-Barone (sister-in-law)
Jennifer Whelan (sister-in-law)
Gerard (maternal cousin)

text: Raymond Albert "Ray" Barone (Ray Romano) is the protagonist of the sitcom. Most of the series’ storylines revolve around him, hence the title of the show. He lives on Long Island, with his wife Debra and their three children Ally and twin boys, Michael and Geoffrey Barone. He attended St. Johns University (New York) in Queens, New York. Ray is well-known through the community due to his profession as a writer for a sports column. In some episodes, he is seen reviewing a famous sportsperson. However, this is shown to have subsided in the later seasons. Due to the nature of his work, Ray is often seen on the couch, watching sports, rather than assisting Debra with household duties and the children.

tag: p

text: At times Raymond appears rather introverted. He often rants in a nasal, whiny voice. His fears include not being liked by everyone and confronting his parents, particularly his mother. He often gets annoyed because he feels that he and Debra lack intimacy. He is also promoted as chief sports writer.

text: Parts of the backstory of his childhood have explained Raymond’s attitude and personality as an adult. Raymond and Robert were spoiled by their mother. However, their father, who worked long hours, had been neglectful in showing them affection and instead showed verbal abuse. Ray has sometimes shown this pattern of behavior in his reluctance to participate with his own children.

text: A running gag in the show is how much Ray was mothered and spoiled by his mother, while Robert was neglected. Raymond was pampered by Marie, which in turn, made him lazy and causing him to act like a child, and very often, to defend himself to Debra, he goes to Marie for advice and protection. He is also very scared of her and often sides with her instead of Debra.

text: In 2004, TV Guide ranked Ray Barone number 10 on its '50 Greatest TV Dads of All Time' list.[1]

text: The character has made several crossover appearances:

text:
1997: Cosby – "Lucas Raymondicus"
1998: The Nanny – "The Reunion Show"
1998–2005: The King of Queens (4 episodes)
1999: Becker – "Drive, They Said"

tag: ul

text: Debra Barone

text:
Debra Louise Whelan Barone

First appearance
"Pilot"

Last appearance
"The Finale"

Portrayed by
Patricia Heaton

Number of episodes
209

Information

Occupation
Homemaker

Family
Warren Whelan (father)
Lois Whelan (mother)
Jennifer Whelan (sister)

Spouse(s)
Raymond Barone (since 1988)

Children
Alexandra "Ally" Barone (daughter)
Geoffrey Barone (twin son)
Michael Barone (twin son)

Relatives
Frank Barone (father-in-law)
Marie Barone (mother-in-law)
Robert Barone (brother-in-law)
Amy MacDougall-Barone (sister-in-law)
Mel Barone (uncle-in-law)
Gerard (cousin-in-law)

text: Debra Louise Whelan-Barone (Patricia Heaton), is the wife of Ray. She was raised by wealthy parents, Lois (Katherine Helmond) and Warren Whelan (Robert Culp), and grew up in an upper-class background, unlike the other major characters in the sitcom. She has a sister, Jennifer Whelan (Ashley Crow), who is seen only once in the entire series. Following her graduation from high school, she traveled a lot and dated many famous sportspeople. Before marrying Ray, she worked in public relations for the New York Rangers hockey team.

text: Debra is vulnerable and emotionally sensitive. She is unhappy as a housewife, having to put up not only with Ray’s immature jokes and lazy behavior, but more with his intrusive family members, who often barge in uninvited, leaving havoc in their wake. Though Ray's parents frustrate her, she rarely shows her feelings to them, resulting in occasional bursts in private of yelling, stomping, and throwing objects.

text: Debra has a feud with Marie, who shows a large amount of distaste of her ability to be a mother and a wife. Throughout the series, Debra often finds Robert the most patient of the Barones, and at times she is shown to get along well with Frank, who thinks of her as a daughter and understands Debra's intolerance towards Marie.

text: She is also depressed about her parents when they were in an argument, and she was distraught when they were divorcing. Even though she grew up in a traditional conservative family, she was a free-spirited and a popular teen in her early years. Ray once noted that, during college, she went to Mardi Gras and flashed her breasts to many people who gave her beads and also ended up topless in the newspaper.

text: Her main catchphrase is, usually addressed to Ray in an ominous voice when he has done something bad, "What did you do?"

text: The character has also appeared in the King of Queens episode "Dire Strayts".

text: Barone children

text:
Alexandra "Ally" Barone (154 episodes; played by Madylin Sweeten) – Ray and Debra's only daughter. She is six years old at the beginning of the series, and is fourteen by the series finale. She was named for Romano's real-life daughter. In the beginning, she is somewhat mischievous and naughty much like her brothers, but becomes loyal and helpful by the end. However, she still occasionally fibs and answers back to her parents if she doesn't get what she wants, such as a $250 silk dress which would only be worn once.
Geoffrey and Michael Barone (130 episodes; played by Sullivan and Sawyer Sweeten) – Ray and Debra's identical twin sons. They are two years old at the beginning of the series and are ten years old by the series finale. A running joke is Frank's insistence that Geoffrey may have homosexual tendencies, such as when he walks in on the two boys rehearsing to play fairies in a school production. The two are stereotypically playful, energetic, and prone to causing chaos even without trying but in general are well-behaved. (In the pilot episode, they were played by a different set of twins plus a set of triplets and were called "Gregory" and "Matthew" after Romano's real-life twin sons.)

text: Marie Barone

text:
Marie Janella Barone

First appearance
"Pilot"

Last appearance
"Finale"

Portrayed by
Doris Roberts

Number of episodes
210

Information

Occupation
Homemaker

Spouse(s)
Frank Barone (since 1957)

Children
Raymond "Ray" Barone (son)
Robert Barone (son)

Relatives
Debra Barone (daughter-in-law)
Amy MacDougall-Barone (daughter-in-law)
Alexandra "Ally" Barone (granddaughter)
Geoffrey Barone (grandson)
Michael Barone (grandson)
Mel Barone (brother-in-law)
Gerard (nephew)

text: Marie Janella Barone (Doris Roberts) is the wife of Frank, and matriarch of the Barone family. As a housewife, she excels in household duties, including cooking, cleaning, and generally keeping and maintaining a good household. Marie appears to have narcissistic personality disorder, and her treatment of people due to this becomes a focal point of several episodes of the show. She is very nosy, snobbish, arrogant, insulting, and has a strong hold over her family due to her penchant for her likely narcissistic abuse, bullying those around her with guilt and a victim complex to get her way. She has very high self-esteem and believes herself as a positive example of what every wife, mother and woman should be. She takes special pride in her Italian background and even arranges a tour of Italy for the whole family out of her own savings.

text: Throughout the series, she is shown to have favorites with certain people, with her son Raymond being the first and Debra being possibly the last. Other than Frank, everyone has a hard time standing up to Marie due to her ability of making people feel guilty, although Debra does occasionally take a stand. She is well aware of Raymond’s reluctance to stand up to her, and in many situations takes advantage of this to achieve her own interests.

text: It is established in the flashbacks of "How They Met" that she has never liked Debra ever since Debra asked Ray to fix her futon at dinner time, but Marie has never admitted her dislike of Debra outright and is careful about not saying it out loud, but she never ceases the chance to annoy her or indirectly insult her on many occasions just for her own pleasure.

text: She has saved a little money on the side every day and admitted to Debra that she collected over $46,000 since her wedding. She also sends money to South America to a fundraiser. She is also shown to actually control the family's finances in front of Frank, who always thought he was the one in charge and remained oblivious to much of her savings or expenses.

text: As her boys were growing up, she spoiled her younger son while completely cutting Robert out of the picture. However, in a later episode, she claims that this was because Robert was able to take care of himself and was independent, in contrast to Ray who was a sensitive, timid, needy little boy (this was likely said just to manipulate Robert into getting Amy pregnant, as both he and Raymond note and Marie herself winks to Ray, indicating this is another manipulation). In some cases, however, she is shown to care and be overprotective of Robert as well. This includes when he had nightmares growing up, when he was gored by a bull, when he was interviewing for an FBI position, and her frequent attempts to get Robert out of the police force in effort to keep him safe.

text: Marie is also seen constantly arguing with her husband Frank in nearly every episode, with them constantly fighting and annoying each other. However, in some situations, there have been times when they do evidence their love for one another, despite their reluctance to be open with it. Much to Debra's annoyance, even Debra's parents find them more interesting, since they are honest to each other.

text: Her catchphrase is "I don't like that, [insert name]." whenever anyone says anything inappropriate.

text: The final episode reveals that her birthday is December 9 (this was one of Frank's classic "one-liners" as he adds "1802").

text: The character has also appeared in the King of Queens episode "Rayny Day".

text: Frank Barone

text:
Frank Oscar Barone

First appearance
"Pilot"

Last appearance
"Finale"

Portrayed by
Peter Boyle

Number of episodes
207

Information

Occupation
Bookkeeper (retired)

Spouse(s)
Marie Barone (since 1957)

Children
Raymond "Ray" Barone (son)
Robert Barone (son)

Relatives
Debra Barone (daughter-in-law)
Amy MacDougall-Barone (daughter-in-law)
Alexandra "Ally" Barone (granddaughter)
Geoffrey Barone (grandson)
Michael Barone (grandson)
Mel Barone (older brother)
Gerard (nephew by marriage)

text: Francis Oscar "Frank" Barone (Peter Boyle) is the husband of Marie and a retired bookkeeper. In the episode "The Gift" (season 2), it is Frank's 65th birthday, making his year of birth 1932. He can be seen as aggressive, selfish, uncaring, and masculine. Although it is briefly mentioned that he has a sensitive side, Frank refuses to accept it. In episodes like "Pet the Bunny", "Christmas Present", "Fathers Knows Least" and "Frank Goes Downstairs", he indicates that, though capable of patience and kindness, he deliberately cultivates a tough guy persona. However, Frank is sometimes shown to be a good family man, such as taking the fall for Debra when Marie's prized canister goes missing or even trying to console Robert after he becomes morose from a breakup.

text: He is always seen at Ray and Debra’s house on the black armchair with his pants unbuttoned and zipper open watching sports or at home ordering Marie to prepare his meals while sitting and reading the paper. During his sons’ childhood, Frank was virtually absent and had refused to show any sign of affection and love to either boy. He was constantly at loggerheads with his wife Marie to how the boys were to be raised. He is very opinionated, outspoken, and has no problem insulting family members and strangers out in the open (this applies in particular to his wife, Marie). He calls men names like "Nancy", "Shirley", "Peaches", and "Mary" who do not live up to his standards to what it takes to be a man. His main catchphrase on the show is "Holy crap".

text: Throughout the sitcom, Frank is shown to have socially conservative values, particularly regarding minority groups such as gays and lesbians, and ethnic groups such as the Koreans and Japanese to which he occasionally mutters "Japanese crap". He doesn’t follow or accept anything outside the social norms, to which Marie proclaims "Frank lives in blissful ignorance". Despite Marie’s constant self-regard, she is accepting of these minority groups. Much to other characters' dismay, he's not above engaging in illegal or dubious activities such as gambling or stealing cable from Ray.

text: In his spare time, Frank is a skilled handyman and a history buff, with a particular interest in the American Civil War. He's frequently seen making repairs in Ray and Debra's house, and in "Frank Goes Downstairs" is injured while fixing their staircase. His regular get-away activity is having naked pool bath with his elderly friends at a community center referred to as "the lodge". On every other Saturday, he takes Raymond's children to The Happy Zone.

text: Frank is also a war veteran. He fought in the Korean War and he uses this as a reference for recounting stories of survival and how he came to be a "man". In one particular incident, where all three Barone men were pretending to go to counseling sessions it was revealed that Ray and Robert had a long line of physically disciplinarian grandparents. However, Frank vowed to never be physically abusive towards his sons, never enforcing corporal punishment on them and never engaging in anything more than yelling at them.

text: Though for the most part largely anti-social and honest in his relationships with others, he is often depicted as the only member of the family who is not only unafraid of Marie, but the only one who will put his foot down and stand up to her, much to the combined relief and horror of the other characters. Many of their arguments revolve around trivial and even irrational subjects, such as who invented the lawn and literally comparing apples and oranges.

text: They also come into conflict over Debra, whom Frank, unlike Marie, overwhelmingly loves, and even tends to be more affectionate with than he is with either of his sons. True to his blunt personality, in one episode in which the entire family (the adults) were at a counseling session with their church priest Father Hubley, he yelled out in front of everyone that the main reason why Marie looks down on Debra – "She [Debra] married him [Raymond], and [Marie] still can't deal with it."

text: Robert Barone

text:
Robert Charles Barone

First appearance
"Pilot"

Last appearance
"Finale"

Portrayed by
Brad Garrett

Number of episodes
209

Information

Gender
Male

Occupation
Police Officer (NYPD)

Family
Frank Barone (father)
Marie Barone (mother)
Raymond "Ray" Barone (brother)
Mel Barone (uncle)

Spouse(s)
Joanne Glotz (1994–1995; divorced)
Amy MacDougall-Barone (since 2003)

Relatives
Debra Barone (sister-in-law)
Hank MacDougall (father-in-law)
Pat MacDougall (mother-in-law)
Peter MacDougall (brother-in-law)
Alexandra "Ally" Barone (niece)
Geoffrey Barone (nephew)
Michael Barone (nephew)
Gerard (maternal cousin)

text: Robert Charles Barone (Brad Garrett) is Raymond's older brother (4 years older than Ray) and the first-born son of Frank and Marie. His birthday is April 6 and his birth weight was 12 pounds (5443 g). Standing at 6' 8½" (204 cm), he is the tallest Barone, and has several quirks, the biggest being a nervous habit of touching food to his chin before eating it, commonly known as the "Crazy Chin", which he developed to cope with anxiety which started when Raymond was born and all of Marie's attention turned to Raymond. Robert is a loving uncle and still deeply cares for his little brother Raymond. Robert has been a police officer with the N.Y.P.D for 27 years, eventually attaining the rank of Sergeant and then, by the end of the series, Lieutenant. His height, appearance and demeanor are the source of much humor, but despite his imposing size, Robert is a very skilled dancer.

text: After divorcing his first wife Joanne in 1995, Robert moved back in with his parents, became a workaholic, and was acknowledged by the NYPD for never being absent one day of his career for three years straight. Robert's advanced skills as a police officer even got him an interview with the FBI, but his mother intentionally interfered in the interview process. Robert was passed over but simply because the other candidates were more qualified. He was injured on the job when he was gored in the bottom by a bull. When he returned, he left the police force out of a lack of self-confidence, and became a telemarketer. Later, he took a side job as an alarm salesman for a brief time (one episode) but returned to the NYPD, mainly with Raymond's help.

text: Robert dated Debra's best friend Amy MacDougall for several years, despite a number of breakups. After a bad date with yet another woman, Robert ran into Amy in a bar and they soon got back together and married in 2003. In 2004, they purchased Frank and Marie's home for $26,000, but they had to welcome them back in when the elder Barones were kicked out of a retirement community in New Jersey in the episode "Not So Fast."

text: Robert is very jealous of his brother Raymond, who was favored by their mother, and though Robert is four years older than Ray and much taller, he constantly feels as if he's stuck in Ray's shadow. Despite the obvious favoring of Ray, Marie has claimed that there was never any favoritism. He has a very dark sense of humor and will make fun of Raymond to no end to get a little belated revenge. He is also known for being very passive-aggressive.

text: While he enjoys taunting Ray himself, Robert is very protective of his younger brother; in one episode, he overhears a radio sports show host insulting Ray at length and angrily humiliates the man in retaliation. He also respects Ray as a well-meaning, if generally absent, father, in the pattern of Frank. Robert serves as the moral conscience in the family, as the most virtuous of the characters, and often pleads with others when they are considering doing something questionable.

text: Robert's catchphrase in the show is when he finds the family gathered together silent and says: "Is this about me?"

text: Robert also appears in the King of Queens episode "Road Rayge".

text: Amy MacDougall-Barone

text:
Amy Louise MacDougall-Barone

First appearance
"Who's Handsome?"

Last appearance
"The Finale"

Portrayed by
Monica Horan

Number of episodes
66

Information

Gender
Female

Family
Hank MacDougall (father)
Pat MacDougall (mother)
Peter MacDougall (brother)

Spouse(s)
Robert Barone (since 2003)

Relatives
Frank Barone (father-in-law)
Marie Barone (mother-in-law)
Ray Barone (brother-in-law)
Debra Whelan-Barone (sister-in-law)
Alexandra "Ally" Barone (niece by marriage)
Geoffrey Barone (nephew by marriage)
Michael Barone (nephew by marriage)
Mel Barone (uncle-in-law)
Gerard (cousin in-law)

text: Amy Louise MacDougall (Monica Horan) is Robert's on-and-off girlfriend, and eventual wife. They met because Amy is Debra's best friend. She and Debra share the same middle name. Although Amy marries Robert in Season 7, Episode 24: "Robert's Wedding", she also appears in the previous seasons. Many issues have caused Amy and Robert to break up in the first six seasons, with one being caused by Raymond and another being that Robert had sex with another woman. Frequently, Amy apologizes to someone even if she didn't do anything wrong.

text: She is a confident woman who was raised in a family of devout Protestants, who live in Pennsylvania. She describes her parents as "people who wouldn't yell if they were on fire." Amy was a virgin when she met Robert, which Ray had a hard time understanding, as Amy was 33 at the time. She eventually lost her virginity to Robert before they were married, but they were spotted having sex by their neighbors, causing Robert's neighbors to sign a sheet mandating bedroom curtains in the apartment building.

text: Recurring

text: Hank and Pat MacDougall (13 episodes; played by Fred Willard and Georgia Engel) are Amy's parents. They first appear in "Just a Formality" (episode 7.14). Devout conservative Presbyterians, they oppose their daughter's marriage because of Robert's previous marital status and Catholic faith. These matters are not helped as they soon learn that the MacDougalls and the Barones are not the most compatible of families; the two sides still do not like each other after many tries at truce, although the Barones have always loved Amy, and the MacDougalls come to tolerate Robert.

text: Hank is a former professor and is now a high school principal. He is known to be opposed to smoking, and his line when he sees someone smoking is "Why don't you just drink poison?". Pat is a housewife, and has a high-pitched, gentle voice. She is shown to be a protective and loving mother.

text:
Peter MacDougall (10 episodes; played by Chris Elliott) is Amy's older brother. He has a strange, psychologically unstable personality (Robert once stated that "There are squirrels juggling knives in his head") and a duplicitous, quick-witted mind. Opposed to his sister's marriage, he insists that he will keep trying to break it up, which explains the reason why during Robert's wedding that Robert and Ray looked at him when the pastor asked if anyone objected to Robert and Amy's marriage. Peter is single but lives with his pet house cat, Miss Puss. At first, Peter and Robert hate each other, but in "Peter on the Couch," the two find common ground in the fact that they both suffered from being the overshadowed older sibling and living with their parents. He is fond of Ray, although the feeling isn't mutual. Peter was originally introduced as "Russell", the owner of a comic book shop (played by comedian Paul Reubens) in a one-time appearance. Russell abruptly became Peter because in "Just a Formality" (episode 7.14), Peter mentions meeting Ray at the comic book store (which was Russell).
Lois and Warren Whelan (14 and 11 episodes, played by Katherine Helmond and Robert Culp) are Debra's parents. Even though they are an authoritarian conservative family, they are shown to have a breakdown and actually hate their marriage and hobbies. They are from Connecticut. They are also upper class, and have different beliefs from the middle class Barones. However, the Whelans have a huge amount of respect towards them for their bluntness and start to imitate them, angering Debra.

text: Lois is a housewife, and traveled around on fundraisers. Her line of work was not mentioned. She is friendly and patient, but easily insulted. She also appears to be nervous around Robert, who feels the same way. She has a struggling relationship with Warren, and even though she suggested and went to counseling in New Jersey, he eventually files in for a divorce, which she accepts, since she cannot find love in her marriage anymore.

text: Warren is a businessman, achieving success at a young age, and a caring, happy-go-lucky father. He is very passionate about antiques, and, in a running joke on the show, is often referred to as having a problem with alcohol. He had problems with Lois about their marriage. They agreed to go on counseling in New Jersey, but they eventually divorced. Debra was distraught and furious with Lois because she thought that she filed it, but Warren tells her the truth.

text:
Andy (26 episodes; played by Andy Kindler) – A fellow sportswriter and friend of Raymond's, and a bachelor. He is known to have bad luck with women.
Gianni (25 episodes; played by Jon Manfrellotti) – A contractor, ex-futon repairman, and friend of Raymond's. He briefly dated Amy, much to Robert's consternation, and is disliked by Debra as immature. He worked with Ray when they were younger. He also appeared on The King of Queens. Jon Manfrellotti first appeared as a cable guy from Lynbrook cable in "The Game" (episode 1.17).
Bernie and Linda Gruenfelder (17 and 11 episodes; played by Tom McGowan and Maggie Wheeler) – Married couple, friends of Ray and Debra. They are very happy together and express their love in public.
Kevin Daniels (9 episodes; played by Kevin James) – Announcer for the Mets, and friend and golf buddy of Raymond. He also hosts "Sports Talk with Roy Firestone" in "Ray's on TV" (episode 2.1).
Stan (9 episodes; played by Victor Raider-Wexler) – Friend of Marie and Frank.
Garvin (9 episodes; played by Len Lesser) – A friend of Frank's. A running gag is that when he sees Raymond, he shouts, "Hey, Ray's here! Ha-ha-ha!" while shaking his arms in the air. Lesser used a similar gag on Seinfeld when he portrayed Uncle Leo, enthusiastically saying "Jerry! Hello!" while holding out his arms every time he greeted his nephew Jerry.
Sgt. Judy Potter (9 episodes; played by Sherri Shepherd) – Robert's NYPD patrol partner.

text: Minor

text:
Nemo (7 episodes; played by Joseph V. Perry, Robert Ruth) – Pizza restaurant owner. Disappears when Marco takes over his pizzeria and calls it Marco's.
Gerard (7 episodes; played by Fred Stoller) – Ray and Robert's annoying, unintelligent and hypochondriacal cousin who makes several appearances. He plays the accordion.
Father Hubley (6 episodes; played by Charles Durning) – The local parish priest. He loves Marie's lasagna. Very wary of the Barones, his long-time parishioners, but usually has helpful advice to offer.
Stefania Fogagnolo (6 episodes; played by Alex Meneses) – Robert's hot and jilted Italian ex-girlfriend he met while vacationing with the Barone clan in Italy. He had a fling with her in Italy while he was still with Amy, which later causes breakups with both girlfriends.
Marco Fogagnolo (6 episodes; played by David Proval) – The intimidating and threatening Italian father of Stefania, who takes over Nemo's Pizza after the family moves to America, jokingly implying that he "did away with" Nemo. Although he dislikes Robert, he befriends Frank and Marie but the two end up fighting for his friendship.
Molly Ardolino (6 episodes; played by Ray Romano's actual daughter, Alexandra Romano) – Daughter of Peggy Ardolino (Ray's archenemy and Debra's friend) and Ally's best friend. However, she was first seen as a flower girl in a flashback of Ray and Debra's wedding.
Max (5 episodes; played by executive producer and main writer Phil Rosenthal's real-life father, Max Rosenthal) – A lodge friend of Frank, seen in various lodge-related episodes.
Angelina (4 episodes; played by Tina Arning) – a very attractive waitress from Nemo's. Ray often goes to the restaurant just to fantasize about her beauty. She appears in four episodes.
Uncle Mel Barone (4 episodes; played by Phil Leeds) – Frank's older brother. Mel is mean and always seems agitated. A running gag is since he was never married, and sometimes shows up at family events with other men, he mentions at least once in every episode he is in fact, not gay.
Bill Parker (3 episodes; played by David Hunt) – Ray's nemesis neighbor. Parker is often seen showing-up Ray as a father, and Ray often makes jokes that Debra wishes she had married him instead, (the in-joke being that he is played by Patricia Heaton's real-life husband). Ray's character has said lines that has him thinking out loud that his kids are possibly Bill Parker's doing, because all the kids playing his children on the show are blond, like Bill Parker.
Albert (3 episodes; played by Ray Romano's real-life father, Albert Romano) – A lodge friend of Frank, seen in various lodge-related episodes.
Lee (3 episodes; played by Debra Mooney) – Friend of Marie and Frank's
Dave (2 episodes; played by Dave Attell) – A friend of Raymond and a member of the Nemo's sponsored basketball team in "Captain Nemo" (episode 1.11).
Joanne Glotz (2 episodes; played by Suzie Plakson) – Robert's first wife, who is depicted very negatively. She and Robert divorced before the beginning of the series. She formerly worked as a stripper in Atlantic City named Cinnamon. Marie knew about her former job since she appeared on the show, but kept quiet for Robert's sake until Joanne asked for a divorce.
Bryan Trenberth (2 episodes; played by Dan Castellaneta) – The T-ball "healthy snacks" overseer that Debra tangled with and Ray finally blew up on in "T-Ball" (episode 2.42). He was also Coach Bryan in "It's Supposed To Be Fun" (episode 6.8).
Harriet Lichtman – Marie's bridge partner, and Frank's fantasy woman. Often talked about but only appears in Season 7, Episode 20: "Who's Next".
Abe Warchiser aka "Bullethead" (John David Conti) – Frank's worst enemy at his lodge, seen in various lodge-related episodes. He proved he hated Frank in the episode "Franks Tribute" by telling Robert and Raymond "I don't like Frank Barone!"
Peggy Ardolino (Amy Aquino) – Single mother of Ally's best friend who has bullied Ray and later becomes Peter's girlfriend. Referred to as "The Cookie Lady" and "Peggy Hitler" by Ray. Whenever they see each other, Peggy says, "Hello, Ally's dad," while he just says "Hello... Peggy," in a very intimidating way. Debra ends up scaring Peggy off so she would leave Ray alone saying, "Nobody beats up my husband." Her characteristics are similar to Hitler, according to Ray.
Shamsky II – the bulldog Robert gets in Season 1, Episode 19: "The Dog" after having him neutered and later finding out he was a pure bred used for breeding stock. Shamsky II, named for Robert's favourite baseball player Art Shamsky, makes brief cameos in other episodes.
Jennifer Whelan (Ashley Crow) – Debra's wayward sister who finally becomes a nun in "The Sister" (episode 4.6).