Prohibits the sale of over-the-counter diet pills and muscle-building supplements to minors in Rhode Island and require age verification, restricted access, and civil penalties for violations.

Plain-English Summary

This Rhode Island bill would make it illegal to sell over-the-counter diet pills and muscle-building supplements to anyone under 18 years old. Currently, these products — which can include weight-loss pills, fat burners, protein powders marketed for muscle growth, and similar supplements — are freely available to buyers of any age. This bill would change that by placing age-based restrictions on their purchase, similar to how alcohol and tobacco products are handled.

Under the bill, retailers would be required to verify a customer's age before selling these products. Stores would also need to restrict access to these items, which could mean keeping them behind counters or in locked cases rather than on open shelves where anyone can pick them up. If a business violates these rules — for example, by selling a diet pill to a teenager without checking their ID — they could face civil penalties, meaning fines rather than criminal charges.

The bill would primarily affect young people under 18, retailers who sell these supplements (such as pharmacies, grocery stores, and health stores), and parents of minors. Supporters of similar laws elsewhere have argued that these products can pose health risks to developing bodies, while some retailers may find the new age-verification requirements add operational complexity. The bill has been introduced and referred to the Rhode Island Senate Commerce Committee, where it will be reviewed before any further action is taken.