LOS ANGELES—The Los Angeles City Council on June 1 banned the sale of flavored tobacco in the city, with an exception for hookah lounges that meet certain conditions.
The ordinance will go into effect on Jan. 1. It does not ban the possession or use of flavored tobacco for people over the age of 21.
In June of last year, the council directed the city attorney to draft an ordinance to ban flavored tobacco and menthol cigarette sales in the city—but exempted hookah tobacco products at existing lounges.
The ordinance, which underwent amendments in March, passed 12–0 on June 1.
Under the ordinance, existing smoke lounges will be able to sell hookah products for on-site or off-site consumption, but the city’s 4,500 tobacco retail stores will be banned from selling flavored tobacco, including hookah tobacco….