Four retailers fined in Monterey County for selling flavored tobacco

SALINAS, Calif. (KION-TV) - Four owners of different markets and smoke shops were fined for unlawfully selling flavored tobacco products, among other violations.

The four businesses were ordered to pay fines ranging $2,000 to more than $30,000 in civil penalities and fees.

Flavored tobacco products are banned from being sold in the state of California. The reason for the ban was due to flavored tobacco being popular with youth throughout the state, citing that said flavored products were easy to purchase.

In 2024, the Monterey County District Attorney's Office obtained a grant to lead investigations and enforce California's tobacco laws. For this, investigators would make purchases undercover at 41 retailers selling tobacco throughout the county.

26 retailers were found to comply with California's tobacco law, while the other 15 stores either faced enforcement actions or closed their businesses.