Beverly Hills is officially the first city in the USA to ban the sale of tobacco products. By 2021, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars, and other tobacco products won’t be available at gas stations, convenience and grocery stores, and pharmacies anymore. Special allowances will be made for high-end cigar lounges and hotels, though.
According to CNBC, in early June 2019, the Beverly Hills City Council voted to make it the first city in the USA to ban tobacco. The ban is planned to take hold in 2021. “Allowing tobacco products to be sold in the city increases access to these harmful and dangerous products and does not promote the city’s image as a healthy city,” the ordinance reads.
The decision is controversial, especially among business owners. Opponents claim that the tobacco ban will harm sales and force employee layoffs. On the other hand, public health advocates argue that the benefits to public health outweigh the negative impact a ban may have on sales.
Council Member Lili Bosse supports the ban as she believes the prohibition aligns with Beverly Hills’ positive image as a health-conscious city. “I thought this was just truly a landmark moment for our city, for our community,” she said.
Thomas Briant, executive director of the National Association of Tobacco Outlets, disagrees. He said the ban penalizes local gas stations and convenience stores and claimed that tobacco products make up one-third of convenience stores’ in-store sales.
“When you remove those in-store sales, the profitability is no longer there,” said Briant. “We believe this will cause convenience stores in Beverly Hills to layoff employees and likely close their doors.”
He added that the ban would force locals to purchase their tobacco products in neighboring towns. There, they are also likely to buy their gasoline, beverages, and snacks.
Reference: Truth Theory
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