November 22, 2024 The Best Source of News, Culture, Lifestyle for Culver City, Mar Vista, Del Rey, Palms and West Los Angeles

Beverly Hills E-Cigarette Ban Goes Into Effect

e-cigarettes
E-cigarettes are officially banned in Beverly Hills, with the law regulating the smoking activity officially being enforced as of June 1. (Thinkstock)

The smoking of electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes, is officially illegal in Beverly Hills, as a law banning the recreational activity officially went into effect on June 1.

Council members approved the e-cigarette ban on Feb. 18, regulating the sale and public consumption of the smoking alternative exactly the same as regular cigarettes.

The use of e-cigarettes and tobacco is banned at Farmers Markets, in outdoor service lines, public plazas, and other public spaces.

E-cigarettes would still be allowed in designated smoking areas within private plazas so long as that area is not within 20 feet of a pedestrian pathway or a building entrance or exit.

An e-cigarette is a battery-powered device with a nicotine cartridge inside. The nicotine is dissolved into a combination of glycol and water, which allows the device to emit a colorless vapor free of tar or other substances generally deemed to be harmful. Accordingly, e-cigarettes have often been considered a less obtrusive alternative to traditional cigarettes.

However, the Beverly Hills council members approved its ban on e-cigarettes earlier this year because, according to the adopted ordinance, City officials believed the activity could lead to harmful effects on the user.

“Electronic cigarettes employ the use of a cartridge, generally containing up to 20 [milligrams] of nicotine to deliver vaporized nicotine to users. Some cartridges used by electronic cigarettes can be re-filled with liquid nicotine solution, creating the potential for exposure to dangerous concentrations of nicotine,” the ordinance stated.

The ordinance also cited several U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) findings, such as one laboratory analysis that found diethylene glycol in one cartridge. According to the ordinance, diethylene glycol is “an ingredient used in antifreeze and toxic to humans.”

Other FDA findings cited in the ordinance included human carcinogens discovered in half or more of the e-cigarette samples tested by the government and low levels of nicotine found in cartridges labeled as not containing nicotine.

“A study published in the American Journal of Public Health found similar results to the FDA testing and concluded that the electronic cigarettes tested so far have demonstrated ‘poor quality control; toxic contaminants, albeit at low levels; misrepresentation of the nicotine delivered; and, insufficient evidence of the overall public health benefit,’” the ordinance reads.

Another concern for Beverly Hills’ policy makers: the accessibility of e-cigarettes to teenagers and young people.

E-cigarettes are often marketed as an alternative option to adults who seek to cut down or even quit entirely the smoking of real cigarettes. However, the accessibility of e-cigarettes online and public places where teenagers frequent – such as malls – raised a concern with the FDA that the smoking alternative would be easily accessible to the underage market.

“The FDA has raised concerns that electronic cigarettes, which are often marketed in appealing flavors, can increase nicotine addiction among young people and may lead youth to try conventional tobacco products,” the Beverly Hills ordinance stated. “The FDA has also raised concerns that electronic cigarettes are marketed and sold to young people and are readily accessible online and via mall kiosks.”

Related Posts

Video Shows Officer-Involved Shooting Outside SMPD Station

November 22, 2024

November 22, 2024

Officials Have Issued a Viewer Advisory, Cautioning That the Material May Be Distressing The Santa Monica Police Department has released...

Donate Blood and Save Lives at Culver City Fire Station This Weekend

November 22, 2024

November 22, 2024

Get a T-Shirt, Gift Card for Participating in the Cedars-Sinai Blood Drive The Culver City Rotary Club, in collaboration with...

LAPD Motorcycle Officer Hospitalized After 405 Freeway Crash in Sepulveda Pass

November 21, 2024

November 21, 2024

Collision Near Skirball Center DrivePossibly Involving a Tesla Caused Major Traffic  The 405 Freeway was the scene of a motorcycle...

Santa Monica Police Release Body Cam Footage of Deadly Force Incident Outside Headquarters

November 21, 2024

November 21, 2024

Graphic Video Shows a Violent Assault on an SMPD Officer by a Knife-Wielding Suspect The Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD)...

Breakaway Café Opens New Venice Location with Beachside Grab-and-Go Window

November 20, 2024

November 20, 2024

Bayse Brothers Bring Their Signature Breakfast Dishes and Good Vibes to Venice Breakaway Café, a popular breakfast and lunch eatery...

Last Minute Additions to the Best Thanksgiving 2024 Feasts and Pies To Go

November 20, 2024

November 20, 2024

If Other Faves are Sold Out, Here’s All The Quality Places to Try Now Celebrity chefs Susan Feniger and Mary...

Everytable’s Holiday Meal Collaboration To Support LA’s Unhoused Youth

November 20, 2024

November 20, 2024

Chef Created Thanksgiving Meal Benefits My Friend’s Place. Everytable, the mission-driven company committed to making scratch-cooked, nutritious meals accessible to...

Los Angeles City Council Codifies Sanctuary Protections for Migrants with New Citywide Ordinance

November 19, 2024

November 19, 2024

Mayor Bass Prioritized the Ordinance after Trump’s Mass Deportation Threats The Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to officially...

The Palms Community Council’s Executive Committee Schedules Special Meeting for Nov. 20

November 19, 2024

November 19, 2024

Meeting to Address Open Board Positions and Committee Updates The Executive Committee will hold a special meeting on Wednesday, Nov....

Hammer Museum Presents 10th Edition of MoMA Contenders: Screenings, Conversations with Top Filmmakers

November 19, 2024

November 19, 2024

Lineup Features Films by Steve McQueen, Sean Baker, and Brady Corbett The Hammer Museum will host the 10th edition of...

Film Review: Wicked

November 19, 2024

November 19, 2024

By Dolores Quintana Director John Chu (Crazy Rich Asians, In The Heights) has crafted an effervescent take on the blockbuster...

Randy’s Donuts Arrives in Culver City with Free Donuts and a $250 Gift Card Giveaway

November 19, 2024

November 19, 2024

Grand Opening on November 19 Includes Sweet Giveaways Starting at 6:00 a.m. The time is finally here. Randy’s Donuts is...

Nicole Nagel’s Futuristic Eric Moss Designed Brentwood Home To Hit Auction Block

November 18, 2024

November 18, 2024

The Spaceship-Like Property Heads to Auction With No Reserve in December German actress Nicole Nagel, who was part of the...

LA Controller Kenneth Meija: City Left $513 Million of Homelessness Budget Unspent

November 18, 2024

November 18, 2024

Inefficiencies Blamed for Underspending Despite Record Allocation in FY2024  The City of Los Angeles hasn’t spent over half of its...

West LA College Expands Zero-Cost Textbook Programs with $600K Grant

November 18, 2024

November 18, 2024

College Aims for 50 Zero-Cost Textbook Programs by 2025  West Los Angeles College (West) is expanding its zero-cost textbook program...