St. Paul, Minn. Votes to Reduce Number of Tobacco Retailer Licenses, Bans Tobacco Vending Machines (Update)
On Wednesday, the St. Paul City Council set a process in motion that will eventually cut 50 tobacco retailer licenses and 10 tobacco product shop licenses as it looks to make it harder for individuals to access tobacco products in the city.
According to the ordinance that was passed, the city will gradually reduce the number of tobacco retailer licenses from 150 to 100, while the number of tobacco product shop licenses will go from 25 to 15. The former covers things like convenience or liquor stores, while the latter covers shops that derive 90 percent or more of their revenue from tobacco sales, require customers to be at least 21-years-old, and have at least one staff member dedicated to tobacco sales.
Any store that applied for their license on or before July 31, 2021 will be grandfathered in as long as they remain in compliance with city tobacco laws and apply for a renewal within a year of a license expiring. As retailers close or otherwise lose their licenses, it will reduce the number of licenses available.
The ordinance also makes an immediate change to remove licenses for tobacco vending machines throughout the city. It still needs Mayor Melvin Carter’s signature before the ordinance will go into effect. According to a report from KSTP.com, a spokesperson from the mayor’s office indicates he plans to sign it into law.
Update (Dec. 23, 2023) — The mayor signed the ordinance into law on Dec. 18.
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.
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