If you want to weigh in on the city’s planned regulations to cut down on tobacco sales to minors by increasing fees for retailers, Monday evening is your chance. The city will hold a public hearing on the plan at 5:30 p.m. in room 1450 of the Municipal Services Building at 1401 John F. Kennedy Blvd.
Philadelphia City Council conducted a public hearing Monday evening for people to weigh in on the proposed tobacco retailing regulation.
The hearing took place at the Municipal Service Building at 1401 John F. Kennedy Blvd Monday.
The policy will increase the cost of selling tobacco products by $50 to $300 annually. It also proposes a standardized penalty, where businesses caught selling tobacco to minors three times in two years will lose their tobacco license for a year.
The extra money will be used to hire inspectors to crack down on tobacco sales to youth.
Mayor Jim Kenney was blunt about his opposition on tobacco—specifically underage tobacco use.
“I don't have a lot of sympathy of people who market and sell to young poor people or poor people, things that are detrimental to their health,” he said.
If approved, the policy will likely go into effect starting in 2017.
