Beverly Hills Becomes First U.S. City To Ban Tobacco Sales

BEVERLY HILLS, CA — The Beverly Hills City Council voted 5-0 at Tuesday night meeting to approve an ordinance prohibiting the sale of tobacco products within the city. The ordinance will begin on Jan. 1, 2021, and there were exceptions granted for hotels and existing cigar lounges. Beverly Hills is the first city in the United States to ban the sale of tobacco products like cigarettes, cigars, e-cigarettes and others.

The ordinance also includes "a hardship exemption provision for retailers that demonstrate the ban would cause undue hardship," according to Beverly Hills' public information manager Keith Sterling.

The ordinance calls for a City Council review of its impacts on tourism in three years.

"This reflects the values of our community," Mayor John Mirisch said May 7 after the City Council voted 5-0 to support a draft ordinance. "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."

City News Service contributed to this post