Some new tobacco retail regulations are coming to Hermosa Beach, Calif., as on Tuesday the city’s Board of Health approved restrictions on the sale of flavored tobacco products, as well as a new license for tobacco retailers and limitations on the sales of electronic cigarettes and related devices.

Tobacco retailers will be required to get a new license from the city at the cost of $404 for the first year  and a renewal fee of $344. The fees will be directed to increased inspections of retailers to ensure that they are not selling to persons under 21. The council did waive the initial application fee for the approximately 20 retailers who currently sell tobacco products in the city.

Additionally, tobacco retailers would have to be at least 500 feet away from places where youth tend to congregate, such as schools and parks.

As for flavored tobacco and e-cigarettes, sales will be limited to businesses where you must be at least 21-years-old to enter, or be an active member of the military who is at least 18-years-old. The sales restrictions will go into effect on June 1, 2019, in order to give existing retailers the opportunity to sell off inventory.

The measures were approved by a 3-1 vote, according to a report by TBRNews.com.

Hermosa Beach is home to approximately 20,000 residents. It is located just over 20 miles southwest of Los Angeles.

 

 

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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 MLB.com, 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.