Long Beach To Enforce Ban On Flavored Tobacco In August; Los Angeles Pursues Similar Ordinance

By CBSLA Staff, CBS Los Angeles:

LONG BEACH (CBSLA) — The City of Long Beach says they will soon begin enforcing a ban on flavored tobacco products, a move that the Los Angeles City Council is also moving toward.

The FDA announced plans in April to ban menthol cigarettes, and cigars in other flavors. But as e-cigarettes have risen in popularity, public health officials feared that sweet-tasting flavors are particularly appealing to young people. Long Beach city officials cited the Journal of the American Medical Association, which found 81% of youth who have ever used tobacco products started with a flavored product.

“The city is committed to protecting young people and promoting public health,” Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia said in a statement. “These tobacco products have been directly linked to serious health concerns by doctors and health experts.”

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