Riverside Municipal Code Ch. 6.25 Prohibition of Tobacco Vending Machines

The City Council does hereby find that:

A. Smoking is responsible for the premature deaths of 434,000 Americans each year from lung cancer, heart disease, respiratory illness, and other diseases; secondhand smoke is responsible for an additional 53,000 deaths among nonsmokers; and

B. The U.S. Surgeon General has declared that nicotine is as addictive as cocaine or heroin; no other addictive product or drug or cancer-causing product or drug is sold through vending machines; and

C. The U.S. Secretary of Health, the U.S. Surgeon General, and the leading voluntary health organizations all recommend the elimination of cigarette vending machines for health reasons;

D. Accordingly, the City Council finds that prohibiting the sale of cigarettes through vending machines is essential to protect the health and welfare of the public.

(Ord. 6045 § 1, 1993)

Tobacco vending machine means any machine or device designated for or used for the vending of cigarettes, cigars, tobacco, or tobacco products upon the insertion of coins, bills, trade checks or slugs.

(Ord. 6045 § 1, 1993)

No cigarette or other tobacco products may be sold, offered for sale, or distributed by or from a vending machine or other appliance, or any other device designed or used for vending purposes.

(Ord. 6045 § 1, 1993)