ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – Some tobacco sales can continue near schools in St. Louis County after the county council overrode a veto from County Executive Sam Page.
At issue is whether tobacco sales can continue at stores near schools after the store changes owners. County Executive Page opposes that continuation but the county council disagrees.
This all goes back to a 2019 ordinance that barred the county from granting new tobacco licenses within 1,000 feet of schools, but existing stores that sold tobacco were exempt from the ordinance until the owners sold their businesses.
The goal was to eventually phase out all tobacco sales near schools but the county council overturned the law in 2023, allowing businesses to pass on the tobacco licenses to new owners. County Executive Page vetoed that 2023 move by the county council but now the council has overrode Page’s veto.
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Councilwoman Shalonda Webb says the move by the council allows existing tobacco licenses to be transferred to new owners when a store near a school is sold but it does not allow new licenses to be issued to different businesses.
The St. Louis County Health Department has defended a total ban of tobacco products near schools but companies argue a total ban is unfair because they say businesses without a tobacco license are less valuable.
Businesses near schools that already sell tobacco products will be able to continue selling them when new owners take over but new businesses that open near schools won’t be able to get licenses to sell tobacco.
