Pueblo Council to consider tobacco ordinance for minors

Some tobacco retailers in Pueblo may be required to buy an additional license to pay for enforcement of sales to minors.

The City Council will vote next month on a proposed ordinance drafted by the year-old community group Alliance to License Retail Tobacco. The ordinance calls for an annual $100 fee to retailers who sell smokeless tobacco products.

The revenue would pay for increased police enforcement of retailers who sell tobacco to minors, and to develop a registry of tobacco retailers. It’s unclear how many such retailers exist in Pueblo, but ALRT believes the number to be at least 125.

ALRT is targeting smokeless tobacco for two reasons: Pueblo risks losing state tax revenue if it regulates cigarette sales, and smokeless tobacco may be easier for minors to acquire before moving on to cigarettes.

ALRT said Pueblo has the highest percentage of underage tobacco use in the state, mainly because teens can easily purchase it. Halting tobacco use at a young age lowers addiction rates and saves on future medical costs, the group said.

“We are not trying to have a revenue-generating ordinance,” said ALRT spokeswoman Cathy Sanchez. “The goal is to protect the youth of Pueblo and not put a burden on retailers.”

However, some affected retailers said they are unaware of the proposed ordinance. Among them is Shadi Almousa, owner of Arabian Nights hookah lounge downtown.

“Some businesses can handle that extra expense,” he said. “But some might not because they’re already paying for so many licenses. I can afford it, but I prefer not to. I do support efforts to keep minors away from tobacco.”

The Council plans to vote on the ordinance Oct. 9. If passed, it wound become effective Jan.1. However, affected retailers would not be required to buy the license until the second year, as ALRT continues to educate and inform those retailers.