Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer on Tuesday issued suspensions against 14 retailers for allegedly selling tobacco products to minors and announced other steps to crack down on retailers.
Each of the 14 retailers hit with the 30-day suspensions is within a half-mile of a school and was found to have sold tobacco products to minors at least twice within the last five years. The retailers are in East Los Angeles, Ladera Heights, Pico-Union, South Los Angeles and Westwood, among other communities.
During the suspension period, the retailers cannot display, sell or offer for sale cigarettes and/or other tobacco products.
“Selling cigarettes to our kids is not only harmful, it is illegal,” Feuer said. “With a neighborhood-focused approach, my office is committed to systematically and effectively curtailing tobacco sales to minors.”
In addition to the suspensions, Feuer announced his office will increase inspections 50 percent to cover 700 tobacco product retailers a year. His office will also conduct an education program at local schools for parents with the aim of identifying retailers who sell tobacco products to minors.