Minneapolis City Council Restricts Flavored Tobacco Sales

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Flavored cigars will no longer be sold in Minneapolis convenience stores starting in January.

The city council reportedly voted Friday to ban flavored tobacco products at convenience stores.

The federal government banned flavored cigarettes in 2009, but other tobacco products are still sold with fruit and candy flavors.

Currently, cigars sold in flavors like grape, strawberry and chocolate can be sold at more than 300 locations. Starting in January, that drops to fewer than two dozen adult-only tobacco shops.

The vote followed several weeks of debate between anti-tobacco advocates who argued that flavored products were designed to attract young smokers and shop owners who fear a significant hit to their businesses.