BEVERLY HILLS—Retailers in the city of Beverly Hills have until Friday, December 21, to remove flavored tobacco products from their store shelves, the city announced in a press release on Monday, December 10.
The city of Beverly Hills has been promoting a healthy lifestyle to its residents. With the removal of flavored tobacco products, the city is hoping to decrease the consumption of such products in adults and youths.
The flavored tobacco ban will be applied to all tobacco retailers within city limits which include products like cigarettes, cigars, pipe snuff, chewing tobacco, smokeless tobacco, and electronic cigarettes. The city of Beverly Hills notes on its website that a flavored tobacco product is anything that is using a different flavor to mask or change the flavor of traditional tobacco. A number of flavors have been used, such as menthol, mint, wintergreen, fruit, chocolate, vanilla, honey, candy, cocoa, dessert, alcoholic beverage, herb, or spice.
Menthol cigarettes are included in the ban. The flavored tobacco industry has made it easier for individuals underage to obtain tobacco and become addicted, by eliminating pungent tobacco taste that is found unappealing.
Starting on January 1, 2019, smoking will be prohibited in all multi-unit dwellings in Beverly Hills. The restriction will limit the exposure of second-hand smoke, which has been a concern for the City. Prior to the new regulation, smoking has been prohibited since January 1, 2018 in all rental units that are governed by a new lease or a renewed/extended lease.
The regulation extended to include balconies, patios, and decks, as well as all indoor and outdoor common areas of multi-unit properties. According to the city of Beverly Hills, with the newest regulation going into effect in 2019, smoking will be prohibited in multi-unit dwellings regardless of the start/renewal date of the lease.
For more information about the city’s smoking regulations, visit www.beverlyhills.org/smoking or call 310-285-1014. For details on the city’s free-of-charge smoking cessation program, call 310-385-3534, option 3. Participation requirements apply.
