Aiming to keep more teens away from tobacco, Los Angeles city lawmakers voted unanimously Tuesday to beef up the penalties for businesses that sell cigarettes and other tobacco products to minors.
L.A. Councilman Mitch O’Farrell said the stronger penalties could dissuade businesses from taking the risk of selling to teens and help prevent up to 1,200 Los Angeles minors from becoming addicted to nicotine annually.
In the past, a tobacco retailer would have gotten only a letter of reprimand the first time caught selling cigarettes or other tobacco products to someone under 18.
Now, retailers will face an immediate 30-day suspension of their tobacco permit -- the first in an escalating series of suspensions.