Some tobacco sales can continue near schools in St. Louis (Missouri) County after the county council overrode a veto from County Executive Sam Page. The issue goes back to a 2019 ordinance that banned new tobacco licenses in the county from stores within 1,000 feet of a school. Existing stores that sold tobacco were exempt from the ordinance, but if the owner sold the business, the new owner would be barred from getting a new license.
The goal was to phase out all tobacco sales near schools but the county council overturned the law in 2023, allowing businesses to pass on the tobacco licenses to new owners. Page vetoed that move by the county council but now the council overrode the veto.
Councilwoman Shalonda Webb says the move by the council allows existing tobacco licenses to be transferred to new owners when a store near a school is sold but it does not allow new licenses to be issued to different businesses. The St. Louis County Health Department has defended a total ban of tobacco products near schools but companies argue a total ban is unfair because they say businesses without a tobacco license are less valuable.