St. Louis County Executive Sam Page vetoed a bill last month that would have loosened restrictions regarding tobacco sales near schools.
The legislation, sponsored by Democratic Council Chairwoman Shalonda Webb of Black Jack, was passed by the council May 16 and would have altered a bill passed by the council in 2019 that limited sales of tobacco within 1,000 feet of schools. The 2019 law allowed existing businesses within the 1,000 feet to continue selling tobacco products, but blocked new businesses. Webb’s bill would have extended the exemption and allowed tobacco licenses to transfer to new business owners at locations where tobacco had been sold within the last two years. Webb; 1st District Councilwoman Rita Heard Days, D-Bel-Nor; 3rd District Councilman Dennis Hancock, R-Fenton; and 7th District Councilman Mark Harder, R-Ballwin, were in favor of the legislation, while 5th District Councilwoman Lisa Clancy, D-Maplewood; 2nd District Councilwoman Kelli Dunaway, D-Chesterfield; and 6th District Councilman Ernie Trakas, R-Oakville, were opposed.
Page vetoed the bill May 30, citing the need to protect children from the dangers of tobacco.
“Studies have demonstrated that tobacco retailers in a high concentration of tobacco selling businesses contribute to a proliferation of smoking among our youth. The tobacco industry allocates 90% of its marketing to point of sales marketing, including around our schools,” Page said. “Students who encounter a tobacco retailer on the way to school are exposed to that marketing and all of those efforts encourage impulse purchases and potentially influence them to start smoking.”
At the council’s June 13 meeting, Webb did not motion for a vote to override Page’s veto, which would have taken five votes.
