Beverly Hills, Calif. City Council Recommends Banning Tobacco Sales

On Tuesday night, the Beverly Hills City Council gave its initial support to a bill that would ban the sale of tobacco within city limits, with some notable exceptions.

Following yesterday’s introduction, the ordinance is scheduled to get its first reading and vote on May 21st, with a second reading and final vote expected on June 4th. If passed as expected, the ban would go into effect on Jan. 1, 2021.

However, cigar lounges will be exempt from the ban, while hotels would only be allowed to sell tobacco products to guests through concierge services.

“This reflects the values of our community,” said Mayor John Mirisch. “We are a city that has taken the lead on restricting smoking and promoting public health. Somebody has to be first, so let it be us.”

The ordinance also contains a requirement that the city council revisit the ordinance again in three years from the effective date.

Mirisch and his predecessor, Julian Gold, first proposed the idea in mid-February during a council study session, with Mirisch saying he wanted to have the ordinance on the books within three months. That announcement came just weeks after the city passed a ban on the sale of flavored tobacco products.

Beverly Hills is home to approximately 30 retail tobacco stores, from convenience stores, gas stations and grocery stores to premium cigar shops and the Grand Havana Room, a private cigar lounge.

Patrick Lagreid

I strive to capture the essence of a cigar and the people behind them in my work – every cigar you light up is the culmination of the work of countless people and often represents generations of struggle and stories. For me, it’s about so much more than the cigar – it’s about the story behind it, the experience of enjoying the work of artisans and the way that a good cigar can bring people together. In addition to my work with halfwheel, I’m the public address announcer for the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks during spring training, as well as for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury and previously the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League. I also work in a number of roles for Major League Baseball, plus I'm a voice over artist. Prior to joining halfwheel, I covered the Phoenix and national cigar scene for Examiner.com, and was an editor for Cigar Snob magazine.