§ 8.47.060. Purpose and findings.

The town council of the town of Paradise finds and declares as follows:

A.

Whereas, smoking is the greatest preventable cause of death in our nation, killing more than three hundred ninety thousand Americans each year; and

B.

Whereas, California State Penal Code Sections 308(a) and 308(b) prohibit the purchase and possession of tobacco products and paraphernalia by minors; and

C.

Whereas, over twenty-nine million packs of cigarettes are illegally sold to California minors annually; and

D.

Whereas, nearly ninety percent of all tobacco users start well before the age of eighteen; and

E.

Whereas, shoplifting of cigarettes from tobacco self-displays is one means by which minors access tobacco products; and

F.

Whereas, the town of Paradise has already enacted an ordinance prohibiting the sale of tobacco products from vending machines;

G.

Therefore, the town council finds it in the public interest to promote the welfare of Paradise residents under eighteen years of age by further restricting youth access to tobacco products with the prohibition of tobacco self-displays in our community. (Ord. 333 §1, 1999)