New Requirements related to prohibiting flavored tobacco products.
NEW
REQUIREMENTS
The
Board of Health recently amended relevant City Health Code Chapter 248 language
with new requirements, including prohibiting flavored tobacco products from
being sold or given away in the City of Columbus beginning January 1, 2024.
- Flavored tobacco products include, but are not limited to: tobacco
products with any taste or smell related to fruit, chocolate, vanilla, honey,
candy, cocoa, dessert, alcoholic beverage, menthol, mint, wintergreen, herb or
spice (excluding flavored shisha tobacco).
- Effective January 1, 2024, the annual license fee for each license
will be $350. Prior to January 1, 2024, the license fee will continue to be
$150.
- Signs will be provided by Columbus Public Health to post within 6
feet of each cash register or place where payment may be made in the business. The
sign shall state, “NO PERSON UNDER THE AGE OF 21 MAY BE SOLD TOBACCO PRODUCTS,
INCLUDING ELECTRONIC SMOKING DEVICES.” The sign must be at least 6 by 4 inches
and the words on the sign printed in high contrast red color with capitalized
letters at least 0.3 inches high.
- Effective April 1, 2023, civil
fines increased for violations. A civil fine of $1,000 will be issued for a first violation and a
second violation within two years of the first violation will be issued a civil
fine of $5,000. For a third and all subsequent violations within two years of
an initial violation, a fine of $10,000 per violation and license revocation for
the business will be issued. Any violations which occur more than two years
after a previous violation will not be considered a second or subsequent violation.
Read
the FAQ here.
While
CPH will provide signs, the new sign can also be downloaded here.
Reveiw an illustrated guide of restricted flavored tobacco products here.