Beverly Hills moved one step closer Tuesday evening to becoming the first city in the nation to ban the sale of all tobacco and nicotine products after the city council voted unanimously in the first of two votes required to enact the ban. The ban would exempt three high-end cigar lounges within the city after a group of aficionados – including former Gov. Beverly Hills' ordinance comes as tobacco and vaping products have come into the crosshairs of numerous state governments as well as Congress -- with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell introducing legislation on Monday that would raise the minimum age to purchase tobacco products from 18 to 21. The legislation, which was co-sponsored by Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., comes as the use of e-cigarettes and vaping products has skyrocketed among minors across the country. “Youth vaping is a public health crisis.”Currently, 14 states and the District of Columbia have made 21 the legal age to buy tobacco products, with eight states this year passing their own legislation.

Source: Fox News May 22, 2019 15:56 UTC